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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.

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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 · ball · suit · saw · firm · object · sharp · pop

  1. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  2. She's very handy with a ________________.
  3. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  4. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  5. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  6. It's one o'clock ________________.
  7. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  8. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  9. We're almost out of ________________.
  10. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  11. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  12. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  13. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  14. He works in a ________________ mill.
  15. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  16. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  17. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  18. When will it ________________ you to start?
  19. The King held a masked ________________.
  20. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  21. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  22. You don't need to ________________ round.
  23. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  24. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?

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

Answer key

  1. suit — in cards
  2. saw — the tool
  3. sharp — with an edge
  4. object — an aim
  5. bank — for money
  6. sharp — exactly
  7. bank — of a river
  8. firm — steady
  9. pop — soda
  10. bank — for money
  11. sharp — clever
  12. ball — a round shape
  13. object — a thing
  14. saw — the tool
  15. pop — music
  16. firm — a company
  17. saw — past of 'see'
  18. suit — to fit
  19. ball — a dance
  20. firm — decided
  21. suit — clothes
  22. pop — to visit
  23. ball — a great time
  24. object — to protest

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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