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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: bear · cabinet · sharp · roll · can · rash · board · bank

  1. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  2. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  3. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  6. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  7. We're on a ________________ here.
  8. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  9. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  10. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  11. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  12. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  13. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  14. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  19. What do you think of the new ________________?
  20. It's one o'clock ________________.
  21. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  22. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  23. Don't do anything ________________.
  24. ________________ games are popular in Germany.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — of a river
  2. rash — on the skin
  3. rash — a series
  4. can — a tin
  5. bank — for money
  6. sharp — clever
  7. roll — on a roll
  8. sharp — with an edge
  9. roll — a list
  10. bear — the animal
  11. board — to get on
  12. bank — for money
  13. cabinet — a cupboard
  14. bear — to put up with
  15. can — a tin
  16. board — a committee
  17. can — to be able to
  18. roll — a cake
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. sharp — exactly
  21. bear — the animal
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. rash — hasty
  24. board — a flat piece

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