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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: cabinet · bank · mine · net · fine · lie · mug · sharp

  1. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  2. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  3. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  4. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  5. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  6. Where did you ________________ them?
  7. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  8. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  9. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  10. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  11. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  12. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  13. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  14. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  15. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  16. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  17. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  18. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  19. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  20. It's one o'clock ________________.
  21. What do you think of the new ________________?
  22. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  23. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  24. I assure you, everything's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — of a river
  2. net — for catching
  3. net — after costs
  4. lie — to recline
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. mug — to rob
  7. mine — for digging
  8. sharp — with an edge
  9. bank — for money
  10. net — in sport
  11. cabinet — a cupboard
  12. bank — for money
  13. mug — a face
  14. fine — a penalty
  15. mine — an explosive
  16. fine — high quality
  17. mug — a cup
  18. sharp — clever
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. sharp — exactly
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. mine — belonging to me
  23. lie — an untruth
  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