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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: bank · ruler · bear · pitcher · pit · object · net · rash

  1. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  2. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  3. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  4. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  5. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  6. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  7. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  8. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  9. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  10. He is an ace ________________.
  11. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  12. Don't do anything ________________.
  13. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  14. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  15. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  16. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  17. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  18. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  19. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  20. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  21. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  22. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  23. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  24. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. bear — to put up with
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. net — in sport
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. bank — for money
  7. bear — the animal
  8. rash — on the skin
  9. net — for catching
  10. pitcher — in baseball
  11. bank — for money
  12. rash — hasty
  13. pit — a fruit stone
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. pit — a hole
  16. object — an aim
  17. bank — of a river
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. net — after costs
  20. rash — a series
  21. ruler — a monarch
  22. pit — in a race
  23. object — to protest
  24. object — a thing

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