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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: hand · can · bank · pop · fall · bay · hide · lie

  1. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  3. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  4. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  5. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  6. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  7. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  8. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  9. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  10. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  15. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  16. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  17. My mare is ________________ in color.
  18. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  19. We're almost out of ________________.
  20. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  21. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  22. You don't need to ________________ round.
  23. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  24. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. bay — a part of the sea
  3. bank — for money
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. hand — part of the body
  6. hand — in cards
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. hand — help
  9. bank — for money
  10. bay — to keep at bay
  11. can — a tin
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. can — to be able to
  14. bank — of a river
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. lie — to recline
  17. bay — a horse colour
  18. fall — the season
  19. pop — soda
  20. hide — animal skin
  21. pop — music
  22. pop — to visit
  23. fall — to drop
  24. fall — to drop

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