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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: rush · march · bank · sharp · bay · rock · field · ruler

  1. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  3. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  4. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  5. It's one o'clock ________________.
  6. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  7. That must've been a ________________.
  8. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  9. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  10. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  11. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  14. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  15. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  16. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  17. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  18. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  19. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  20. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  21. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  22. My mare is ________________ in color.
  23. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  24. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. sharp — with an edge
  3. march — the month
  4. field — a subject
  5. sharp — exactly
  6. march — music
  7. rush — a thrill
  8. march — the month
  9. sharp — clever
  10. bank — for money
  11. rock — music
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. bay — a part of the sea
  14. ruler — a monarch
  15. field — for sport
  16. rush — hurry
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. bay — to keep at bay
  19. field — farmland
  20. rock — to move gently
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. bay — a horse colour
  23. bank — for money
  24. bank — of a river

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