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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: jam · swing · rock · bank · wound · stock · shower · fork

  1. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  3. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  4. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  5. The ________________ market has crashed.
  6. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  7. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  8. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  9. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  10. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  11. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  12. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  13. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  14. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  15. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  16. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  17. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  18. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  19. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  20. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  21. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  22. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  23. David sat on the ________________.
  24. Tom got himself in a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. bank — for money
  3. swing — in golf
  4. shower — a meteor shower
  5. stock — shares
  6. bank — of a river
  7. wound — an injury
  8. bank — for money
  9. fork — to eat with
  10. rock — to move gently
  11. shower — rain
  12. stock — a soup base
  13. shower — to wash
  14. rock — music
  15. jam — in traffic
  16. fork — in a road
  17. swing — music
  18. fork — a garden tool
  19. jam — to spread on bread
  20. stock — goods
  21. wound — an injury
  22. wound — past of 'wind'
  23. swing — to play on
  24. jam — a tight spot

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