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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: wound · mug · fine · bank · bass · pop · stand · mate

  1. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  2. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  3. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  4. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  5. You don't need to ________________ round.
  6. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  7. I can't ________________ this cold.
  8. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  9. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  10. Where did you ________________ them?
  11. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  12. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  13. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  14. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  15. Have you found your soul ________________?
  16. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  17. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  18. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  19. We're almost out of ________________.
  20. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  21. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  22. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  23. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  24. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. bank — for money
  3. wound — an injury
  4. bass — the instrument
  5. pop — to visit
  6. wound — past of 'wind'
  7. stand — to bear
  8. bass — low music
  9. stand — on your feet
  10. mug — to rob
  11. pop — music
  12. mug — a face
  13. fine — all right
  14. stand — for spectators
  15. mate — a partner
  16. mug — a cup
  17. bass — the fish
  18. fine — high quality
  19. pop — soda
  20. fine — a penalty
  21. bank — of a river
  22. mate — a friend
  23. wound — an injury
  24. mate — to breed

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