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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: bank · net · swing · deal · bulb · land · rush · object

  1. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  2. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  3. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  4. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  5. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  6. David sat on the ________________.
  7. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  8. When are we going to ________________?
  9. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  10. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  11. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  12. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  13. The light ________________ burned out.
  14. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  15. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  16. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  17. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  18. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  19. That must've been a ________________.
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  24. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — of a river
  2. bulb — of a plant
  3. deal — to handle
  4. object — a thing
  5. land — a country
  6. swing — to play on
  7. swing — in golf
  8. land — to come down
  9. bank — for money
  10. land — ground
  11. object — to protest
  12. net — for catching
  13. bulb — for light
  14. object — an aim
  15. net — after costs
  16. bank — for money
  17. net — in sport
  18. swing — music
  19. rush — a thrill
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. bulb — for light
  22. rush — hurry
  23. deal — an agreement
  24. deal — a big deal

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