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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 · sharp · prune · ruler · suit · lash · march · fan

  1. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  2. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  3. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  4. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  5. It's one o'clock ________________.
  6. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  7. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  8. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  9. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  10. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  11. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  12. When will it ________________ you to start?
  13. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  14. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  15. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  16. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  17. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  18. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  19. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  20. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  21. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  22. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  23. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  24. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. fan — to cool the air
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. bank — of a river
  5. sharp — exactly
  6. march — music
  7. sharp — clever
  8. lash — an eyelash
  9. march — the month
  10. suit — clothes
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. suit — to fit
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. prune — to trim
  15. lash — to lash out
  16. prune — to trim
  17. bank — for money
  18. suit — in cards
  19. ruler — a monarch
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. prune — the fruit
  22. sharp — with an edge
  23. lash — a whip stroke
  24. march — the month

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