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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. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  2. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  3. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  4. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  5. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  6. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  7. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  8. My mare is ________________ in color.
  9. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  10. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  11. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  12. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  13. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  14. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  15. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  16. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  17. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  18. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  21. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  22. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  23. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  24. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. capital — a city
  3. staff — a stick
  4. toast — bread
  5. capital — a big letter
  6. toast — a drink to someone
  7. staff — employees
  8. bay — a horse colour
  9. capital — money
  10. jam — a tight spot
  11. suit — clothes
  12. bank — for money
  13. bay — to keep at bay
  14. jam — to spread on bread
  15. mark — a grade
  16. mark — to pay attention
  17. mark — a trace
  18. toast — the most admired
  19. suit — to fit
  20. jam — in traffic
  21. bay — a part of the sea
  22. suit — in cards
  23. bank — for money
  24. bank — of a river

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