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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: snap · bank · fan · stock · patient · hide · band · leaves

  1. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  2. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  3. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  4. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  5. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  6. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  7. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  8. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  9. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  10. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  11. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  12. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  13. The ________________ market has crashed.
  14. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  15. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  16. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  17. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  18. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  19. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  20. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  21. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  22. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  23. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  24. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. band — a music group
  2. leaves — to go away
  3. patient — a sick person
  4. hide — animal skin
  5. stock — goods
  6. snap — to speak sharply
  7. patient — calm and waiting
  8. snap — to click
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. band — a rubber band
  11. patient — a sick person
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. stock — shares
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. stock — a soup base
  16. bank — for money
  17. fan — to cool the air
  18. bank — for money
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. leaves — lets stay
  21. snap — to snap out of it
  22. bank — of a river
  23. leaves — of a tree
  24. band — a ring

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