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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: wind · mug · spell · bank · rush · rock · track · craft

  1. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  4. Where did you ________________ them?
  5. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  6. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  7. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  8. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  9. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  10. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  11. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  12. How do you ________________ your surname?
  13. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  14. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  15. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  16. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  17. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  18. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  19. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  20. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  21. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  22. That must've been a ________________.
  23. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  24. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wind — to turn a key
  2. rock — a stone
  3. craft — a skill
  4. mug — to rob
  5. craft — boats
  6. rock — to move gently
  7. bank — for money
  8. track — a path
  9. rush — to hurry
  10. craft — a handicraft
  11. rock — music
  12. spell — letters
  13. spell — a short time
  14. track — a song
  15. wind — moving air
  16. track — to keep track
  17. mug — a cup
  18. bank — for money
  19. spell — magic
  20. mug — a face
  21. wind — moving air
  22. rush — a thrill
  23. rush — hurry
  24. bank — of a river

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