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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 116 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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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: cell · stick · rock · chair · sharp · bank · mark · lash

  1. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  2. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  3. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  4. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  5. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  6. It's one o'clock ________________.
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  9. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  10. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  11. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  12. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  13. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  14. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  15. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  16. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  17. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  18. He was locked up in a ________________.
  19. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  20. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  21. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  22. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  23. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. cell — in biology
  2. chair — a leader
  3. bank — of a river
  4. sharp — clever
  5. bank — for money
  6. sharp — exactly
  7. rock — a stone
  8. mark — a trace
  9. rock — to move gently
  10. lash — a whip stroke
  11. stick — to attach or keep to
  12. chair — a professorship
  13. mark — a grade
  14. stick — a piece of wood
  15. bank — for money
  16. stick — a piece of wood
  17. mark — to pay attention
  18. cell — in a prison
  19. lash — to lash out
  20. cell — a phone
  21. chair — to sit on
  22. sharp — with an edge
  23. lash — an eyelash
  24. rock — music

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