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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 116 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. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  2. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  3. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  6. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  7. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  8. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  9. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  10. When will it ________________ you to start?
  11. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  12. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  13. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  14. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. How do you ________________ your surname?
  17. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  20. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  21. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  24. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — in cards
  2. present — a gift
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. pass — a permit
  5. fan — to cool the air
  6. bank — of a river
  7. present — there
  8. present — the time now
  9. branch — of a tree
  10. suit — to fit
  11. suit — clothes
  12. branch — of a bank
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. pass — to succeed
  15. can — a tin
  16. spell — letters
  17. bank — for money
  18. can — to be able to
  19. spell — magic
  20. spell — a short time
  21. branch — a division
  22. can — a tin
  23. pass — to spend time
  24. bank — for money

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