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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: rock · court · roll · bank · leaves · rash · pass · saw

  1. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  3. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  4. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  5. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  6. Don't do anything ________________.
  7. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  8. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  9. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  10. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  11. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  12. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  13. The ball is in your ________________.
  14. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  15. She's very handy with a ________________.
  16. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  17. He works in a ________________ mill.
  18. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  19. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  20. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. We're on a ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. bank — of a river
  3. court — of a king
  4. leaves — of a tree
  5. rock — a stone
  6. rash — hasty
  7. roll — a cake
  8. court — of law
  9. rock — music
  10. pass — to succeed
  11. bank — for money
  12. bank — for money
  13. court — for sport
  14. pass — a permit
  15. saw — the tool
  16. rash — on the skin
  17. saw — the tool
  18. roll — a list
  19. rash — a series
  20. leaves — to go away
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. pass — to spend time
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. roll — on a roll

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