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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: season · chip · fall · bay · current · swing · bank · nail

  1. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  2. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  5. The ________________ went through the wall.
  6. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  7. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  8. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  9. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  10. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  11. David sat on the ________________.
  12. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  13. My mare is ________________ in color.
  14. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  15. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  16. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  17. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  18. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  19. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  20. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  21. Did you ________________ the meat?
  22. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  23. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  24. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. current — electric
  3. current — happening now
  4. chip — in a computer
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. season — in sport
  7. bank — for money
  8. swing — music
  9. season — of the year
  10. bay — to keep at bay
  11. swing — to play on
  12. fall — to drop
  13. bay — a horse colour
  14. chip — for betting
  15. bank — of a river
  16. current — of water
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. fall — to drop
  19. swing — in golf
  20. bay — a part of the sea
  21. season — to add flavour
  22. fall — the season
  23. nail — on a finger
  24. chip — to eat

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