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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: lie · racket · toast · leaves · bass · bulb · bank · sharp

  1. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  2. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  3. I've got to change the light ________________.
  4. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  5. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  8. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  9. The light ________________ burned out.
  10. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  11. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  14. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  15. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  16. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  17. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  18. It's one o'clock ________________.
  19. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  20. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  21. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  22. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  23. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  24. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — clever
  2. racket — for tennis
  3. bulb — for light
  4. sharp — with an edge
  5. bass — the fish
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. toast — bread
  8. leaves — lets stay
  9. bulb — for light
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. bank — for money
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. bank — of a river
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. leaves — to go away
  16. toast — the most admired
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. sharp — exactly
  19. bass — the instrument
  20. bass — low music
  21. lie — to recline
  22. toast — a drink to someone
  23. racket — a loud noise
  24. bank — for money

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