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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: pop · fine · sharp · game · leaves · chair · can · bank

  1. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  2. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  5. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  6. You don't need to ________________ round.
  7. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  8. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  9. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  10. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  11. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  12. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  13. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  16. It's one o'clock ________________.
  17. That was a fun ________________.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. We're almost out of ________________.
  20. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  21. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  22. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.

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

Answer key

  1. game — wild animals
  2. sharp — clever
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. fine — high quality
  5. leaves — to go away
  6. pop — to visit
  7. bank — for money
  8. bank — for money
  9. bank — of a river
  10. pop — music
  11. chair — a professorship
  12. chair — a leader
  13. sharp — with an edge
  14. can — a tin
  15. fine — a penalty
  16. sharp — exactly
  17. game — a match
  18. can — to be able to
  19. pop — soda
  20. fine — all right
  21. chair — to sit on
  22. leaves — lets stay
  23. can — a tin
  24. game — a kind of play

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