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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. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  2. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  3. We're on a ________________ here.
  4. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  5. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  6. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  7. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  8. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  9. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  10. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  11. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  12. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  13. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  14. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  15. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  16. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  17. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  18. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  19. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  20. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  21. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  22. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  23. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  24. Have you found your soul ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. mate — to breed
  2. roll — a cake
  3. roll — on a roll
  4. band — a music group
  5. bank — of a river
  6. staff — employees
  7. bank — for money
  8. fan — to cool the air
  9. prune — the fruit
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. prune — to trim
  12. band — a rubber band
  13. roll — a list
  14. bank — for money
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. mate — a friend
  17. toast — bread
  18. staff — a stick
  19. staff — employees
  20. prune — to trim
  21. toast — a drink to someone
  22. band — a ring
  23. toast — the most admired
  24. mate — a partner

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