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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.

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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: hide · rush · fine · snap · bank · staff · face · suit

  1. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  2. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  3. When will it ________________ you to start?
  4. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  5. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  6. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  7. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  8. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  9. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  10. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  11. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  12. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  13. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  14. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  17. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  18. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  19. That must've been a ________________.
  20. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  21. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  22. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  23. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  24. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. bank — for money
  3. suit — to fit
  4. fine — high quality
  5. fine — a penalty
  6. face — part of the head
  7. snap — to click
  8. suit — clothes
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. staff — a stick
  11. rush — to hurry
  12. staff — employees
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. fine — all right
  15. rush — hurry
  16. bank — of a river
  17. bank — for money
  18. snap — to speak sharply
  19. rush — a thrill
  20. suit — in cards
  21. face — to point toward
  22. hide — animal skin
  23. snap — to snap out of it
  24. face — to confront

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