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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: bank · rush · dip · rock · deal · bore · pitcher · rule

  1. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  2. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  3. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  4. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  5. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  6. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  7. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  8. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  9. That must've been a ________________.
  10. He is an ace ________________.
  11. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  12. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  13. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  14. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  15. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  16. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  17. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  18. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  19. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  20. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  21. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  22. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  23. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  24. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — to handle
  2. bank — for money
  3. rule — government
  4. bore — to tire
  5. bank — for money
  6. deal — a big deal
  7. rush — to hurry
  8. bank — of a river
  9. rush — a thrill
  10. pitcher — in baseball
  11. rule — to rule out
  12. dip — to sink
  13. rule — a law
  14. rock — music
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. rock — to move gently
  17. dip — a sauce
  18. dip — to dunk
  19. bore — to drill
  20. rock — a stone
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. bore — gave birth
  23. rush — hurry
  24. deal — an agreement

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