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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: saw · nail · arm · deal · bank · pop · leaves · charge

  1. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  2. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  3. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  4. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  5. He works in a ________________ mill.
  6. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  7. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  8. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  9. The tickets are free of ________________.
  10. My father caught me by the ________________.
  11. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  12. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  13. The ________________ went through the wall.
  14. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  15. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  16. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  17. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  18. We're almost out of ________________.
  19. You don't need to ________________ round.
  20. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  21. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  22. She's very handy with a ________________.
  23. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  24. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — to handle
  2. bank — for money
  3. leaves — to go away
  4. deal — a big deal
  5. saw — the tool
  6. arm — part of the body
  7. charge — in control
  8. deal — an agreement
  9. charge — a price
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. leaves — lets stay
  12. nail — on a finger
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. leaves — of a tree
  15. arm — a part of something
  16. bank — for money
  17. pop — music
  18. pop — soda
  19. pop — to visit
  20. charge — electricity
  21. bank — of a river
  22. saw — the tool
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. saw — past of 'see'

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