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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: mug · lie · bound · racket · bank · mine · capital · pit

  1. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  2. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  3. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  4. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  5. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  6. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  7. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  8. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  9. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  10. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  11. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  12. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  13. Where did you ________________ them?
  14. That was ________________ to happen.
  15. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  16. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  17. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  18. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  19. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  20. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  21. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  22. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  23. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  24. He was blown up by a land ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a face
  2. bank — for money
  3. mine — belonging to me
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. bound — tied together
  6. pit — a hole
  7. mine — for digging
  8. bank — for money
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. racket — for tennis
  11. pit — a fruit stone
  12. bound — obliged
  13. mug — to rob
  14. bound — certain
  15. capital — money
  16. bank — of a river
  17. mug — a cup
  18. racket — for tennis
  19. capital — a city
  20. pit — in a race
  21. racket — a loud noise
  22. capital — a big letter
  23. lie — to recline
  24. mine — an explosive

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