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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 120 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: rash · prune · deal · pitcher · bank · pass · hide · bear

  1. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  2. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  3. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  4. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  5. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  6. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  7. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  8. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  9. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  10. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  11. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  12. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  13. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  14. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  15. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  16. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  17. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  18. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  19. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  20. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  21. Don't do anything ________________.
  22. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  23. He is an ace ________________.
  24. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. bear — to put up with
  3. bank — of a river
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. bank — for money
  6. deal — to handle
  7. pass — to succeed
  8. pass — to spend time
  9. bear — the animal
  10. prune — to trim
  11. hide — to keep secret
  12. deal — a big deal
  13. prune — to trim
  14. hide — animal skin
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. rash — a series
  17. prune — the fruit
  18. pass — a permit
  19. rash — on the skin
  20. deal — an agreement
  21. rash — hasty
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. pitcher — in baseball
  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