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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. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  3. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  4. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  5. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  6. This piece is in a major ________________.
  7. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  8. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  9. That must've been a ________________.
  10. I've got to change the light ________________.
  11. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  12. The light ________________ burned out.
  13. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  14. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  19. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  20. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  21. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. Did you ________________ the meat?
  24. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. bark — of a tree
  3. bark — a dog's sound
  4. season — of the year
  5. key — for a lock
  6. key — in music
  7. rush — to hurry
  8. bank — of a river
  9. rush — a thrill
  10. bulb — for light
  11. season — in sport
  12. bulb — for light
  13. rock — music
  14. bark — to shout
  15. rush — hurry
  16. rock — to move gently
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. bank — for money
  19. staff — a stick
  20. staff — employees
  21. rock — a stone
  22. key — the most important part
  23. season — to add flavour
  24. staff — employees

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