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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  2. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  5. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  6. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  7. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  8. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  9. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  10. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  11. My mare is ________________ in color.
  12. We're on a ________________ here.
  13. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  17. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  18. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  19. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  20. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  21. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  22. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  23. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  24. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. bank — of a river
  3. can — to be able to
  4. spring — of water
  5. leaves — of a tree
  6. spring — a coil
  7. roll — a cake
  8. bay — to keep at bay
  9. craft — a skill
  10. spring — the season
  11. bay — a horse colour
  12. roll — on a roll
  13. leaves — lets stay
  14. can — a tin
  15. can — a tin
  16. roll — a list
  17. toast — the most admired
  18. toast — a drink to someone
  19. bay — a part of the sea
  20. leaves — to go away
  21. bank — for money
  22. craft — boats
  23. craft — a handicraft
  24. toast — bread

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