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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: wake · bank · fan · row · mine · pit · bay · hand

  1. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  2. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  3. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  4. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  5. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  6. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  7. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  8. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  9. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  10. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  11. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  12. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  13. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  14. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  15. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  16. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  17. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  18. My mare is ________________ in color.
  19. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  20. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  21. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  22. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  23. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  24. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — in a race
  2. row — a line
  3. wake — before a funeral
  4. bank — of a river
  5. row — a quarrel
  6. hand — part of the body
  7. bay — to keep at bay
  8. row — to paddle
  9. pit — a fruit stone
  10. mine — an explosive
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. bank — for money
  13. wake — to stop sleeping
  14. fan — to cool the air
  15. bay — a part of the sea
  16. pit — a hole
  17. mine — for digging
  18. bay — a horse colour
  19. bank — for money
  20. hand — in cards
  21. mine — belonging to me
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. hand — help
  24. wake — a trail

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