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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: hide · rock · race · fan · bank · prune · toast · mark

  1. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  2. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  3. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  4. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  5. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  6. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  7. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  8. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  9. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  10. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  11. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  12. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  13. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  14. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  15. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  16. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  17. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  18. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  19. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  20. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  21. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  22. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  23. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  24. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. hide — to keep secret
  2. race — the arms race
  3. rock — music
  4. bank — for money
  5. prune — to trim
  6. rock — a stone
  7. fan — to cool the air
  8. toast — the most admired
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. prune — to trim
  11. mark — a grade
  12. prune — the fruit
  13. toast — bread
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. race — humankind
  17. mark — a trace
  18. toast — a drink to someone
  19. bank — of a river
  20. mark — to pay attention
  21. race — a contest
  22. rock — to move gently
  23. bank — for money
  24. hide — animal skin

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com