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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: track · suit · rush · cabinet · rock · shower · bank · patient

  1. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  2. What do you think of the new ________________?
  3. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  4. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  5. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  6. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  7. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  8. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  9. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  10. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  11. That must've been a ________________.
  12. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  13. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  14. When will it ________________ you to start?
  15. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  16. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  17. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  18. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  19. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  20. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  21. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  22. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  23. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  24. He keeps ________________ of his days.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — of a river
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. patient — calm and waiting
  4. rush — hurry
  5. bank — for money
  6. suit — in cards
  7. cabinet — a cupboard
  8. rush — to hurry
  9. track — a song
  10. rock — a stone
  11. rush — a thrill
  12. shower — to wash
  13. rock — to move gently
  14. suit — to fit
  15. suit — clothes
  16. bank — for money
  17. patient — a sick person
  18. shower — a meteor shower
  19. patient — a sick person
  20. track — a path
  21. shower — rain
  22. rock — music
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. track — to keep track

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