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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: pitcher · scale · mug · snap · bear · leaves · bank · rash

  1. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  2. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  4. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  5. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  6. He is an ace ________________.
  7. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  8. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  9. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  10. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  11. Don't do anything ________________.
  12. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  13. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  14. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  15. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  16. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  17. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  18. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  19. Where did you ________________ them?
  20. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  21. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  22. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  23. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — size or range
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. bear — the animal
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. pitcher — in baseball
  7. bank — of a river
  8. snap — to snap out of it
  9. snap — to speak sharply
  10. leaves — of a tree
  11. rash — hasty
  12. rash — a series
  13. snap — to click
  14. bear — the animal
  15. scale — for weighing
  16. mug — a cup
  17. scale — in music
  18. leaves — to go away
  19. mug — to rob
  20. bear — to put up with
  21. bank — for money
  22. rash — on the skin
  23. bank — for money
  24. mug — a face

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