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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 120 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. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  2. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  3. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  4. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  5. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  6. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  7. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  8. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  9. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  10. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  11. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  14. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  15. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  18. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  19. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  20. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  21. Have you found your soul ________________?
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  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. mate — a friend
  2. pound — to hit hard
  3. bank — of a river
  4. bank — for money
  5. staff — employees
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. fork — a garden tool
  8. staff — a stick
  9. mouse — for a computer
  10. mark — to pay attention
  11. mark — a trace
  12. can — a tin
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. mate — to breed
  15. pound — a weight
  16. can — a tin
  17. bank — for money
  18. pound — for dogs
  19. fork — to eat with
  20. mark — a grade
  21. mate — a partner
  22. can — to be able to
  23. fork — in a road
  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