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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 116 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: ruler · current · lie · bank · pitch · bark · can · fine

  1. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  2. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  3. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  4. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  7. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  8. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  12. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  13. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  14. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  17. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  18. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  19. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  20. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  21. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  24. The people resisted their cruel ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — high quality
  2. bark — of a tree
  3. pitch — a sports field
  4. bank — of a river
  5. can — to be able to
  6. current — electric
  7. bark — to shout
  8. fine — all right
  9. current — happening now
  10. can — a tin
  11. pitch — a sales talk
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. pitch — completely
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. can — a tin
  16. lie — to recline
  17. bark — a dog's sound
  18. fine — a penalty
  19. bank — for money
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. bank — for money
  22. current — of water
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. ruler — a monarch

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