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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: mate · bark · bank · hand · hide · mug · jam · ball

  1. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  2. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  3. Where did you ________________ them?
  4. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  5. Have you found your soul ________________?
  6. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  7. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  8. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  9. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  10. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  11. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  12. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  13. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  14. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  15. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  16. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  17. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  18. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  19. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  20. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  21. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  22. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  23. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  24. The King held a masked ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mate — a friend
  2. ball — a round shape
  3. mug — to rob
  4. bank — for money
  5. mate — a partner
  6. ball — a great time
  7. bank — of a river
  8. hide — animal skin
  9. mate — to breed
  10. jam — a tight spot
  11. bark — of a tree
  12. mug — a face
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. hand — help
  15. jam — to spread on bread
  16. hand — in cards
  17. bark — to shout
  18. bank — for money
  19. jam — in traffic
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. hand — part of the body
  22. bark — a dog's sound
  23. mug — a cup
  24. ball — a dance

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