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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: jam · bank · clip · row · mouse · cabinet · craft · mug

  1. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  2. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  3. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  4. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  5. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  6. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  7. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  8. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  9. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  10. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  11. Where did you ________________ them?
  12. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  13. What do you think of the new ________________?
  14. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  15. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  16. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  17. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  18. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  19. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  20. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  21. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  22. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  23. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  24. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. clip — to cut
  2. mug — a face
  3. bank — of a river
  4. bank — for money
  5. row — a line
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. row — to paddle
  8. mouse — for a computer
  9. row — a quarrel
  10. cabinet — a cupboard
  11. mug — to rob
  12. craft — boats
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. bank — for money
  15. jam — to spread on bread
  16. craft — a skill
  17. jam — a tight spot
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. clip — a video
  20. clip — for paper
  21. craft — a handicraft
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. mug — a cup
  24. jam — in traffic

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