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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: fan · bore · bank · leaves · bulb · roll · pitch · mine

  1. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  2. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  3. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  4. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  5. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  6. We're on a ________________ here.
  7. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  8. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  9. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  10. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  13. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  14. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  15. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  16. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  17. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  18. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  19. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. The light ________________ burned out.
  22. I've got to change the light ________________.
  23. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — gave birth
  2. mine — belonging to me
  3. roll — a list
  4. pitch — completely
  5. leaves — to go away
  6. roll — on a roll
  7. bank — for money
  8. pitch — a sports field
  9. pitch — a sales talk
  10. bank — for money
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. mine — for digging
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. mine — an explosive
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. bank — of a river
  17. bore — to tire
  18. fan — to cool the air
  19. roll — a cake
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. bulb — for light
  22. bulb — for light
  23. bore — to drill
  24. leaves — lets stay

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