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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. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  3. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  4. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  5. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  6. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  7. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  8. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  9. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  10. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  11. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  12. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  13. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  14. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  15. Did you ________________ the meat?
  16. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  17. The ________________ took off on time.
  18. Have you settled on a ________________?
  19. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  20. This piece is in a major ________________.
  21. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  22. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  23. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  24. The ________________ market has crashed.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. season — in sport
  3. stock — a soup base
  4. date — on the calendar
  5. bank — for money
  6. calf — of the leg
  7. plane — in geometry
  8. rest — what's left
  9. plane — a tool
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. key — for a lock
  12. season — of the year
  13. stock — goods
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. season — to add flavour
  16. key — the most important part
  17. plane — an aircraft
  18. date — on the calendar
  19. rest — what's left
  20. key — in music
  21. bank — of a river
  22. rest — a break
  23. date — the fruit
  24. stock — shares

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