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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: rock · rash · bear · pop · net · bank · fine · lean

  1. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  2. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  5. Don't do anything ________________.
  6. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  7. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  8. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  9. You don't need to ________________ round.
  10. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  11. We're almost out of ________________.
  12. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  13. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  14. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  15. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  16. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  17. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  18. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  19. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  20. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  21. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  22. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. I don't want to ________________ the boat.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. net — in sport
  3. rock — a stone
  4. lean — thin
  5. rash — hasty
  6. bank — of a river
  7. net — after costs
  8. bear — the animal
  9. pop — to visit
  10. fine — a penalty
  11. pop — soda
  12. bank — for money
  13. fine — high quality
  14. lean — to rest against
  15. bank — for money
  16. pop — music
  17. rash — on the skin
  18. bear — to put up with
  19. lean — to bend
  20. net — for catching
  21. rash — a series
  22. fine — all right
  23. rock — music
  24. rock — to move gently

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