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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 120 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 · fine · season · rock · bass · charge · hand · lean

  1. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  2. Did you ________________ the meat?
  3. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  6. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  7. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  8. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  9. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  10. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  11. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  12. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  13. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  14. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  15. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  16. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  17. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  18. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  19. The tickets are free of ________________.
  20. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  21. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  22. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  23. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  24. I assure you, everything's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lean — to bend
  2. season — to add flavour
  3. bank — of a river
  4. rock — a stone
  5. bass — low music
  6. hand — part of the body
  7. hand — in cards
  8. bass — the instrument
  9. fine — a penalty
  10. rock — music
  11. lean — to rest against
  12. charge — electricity
  13. bank — for money
  14. charge — in control
  15. bank — for money
  16. rock — to move gently
  17. bass — the fish
  18. fine — high quality
  19. charge — a price
  20. season — in sport
  21. hand — help
  22. lean — thin
  23. season — of the year
  24. fine — all right

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