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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. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  2. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  3. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  4. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  5. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  6. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  7. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  8. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  9. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  10. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  11. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  12. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  13. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  14. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  15. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  16. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  17. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  18. How do you ________________ your surname?
  19. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  20. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  21. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  22. This piece is in a major ________________.
  23. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  24. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.

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

Answer key

  1. march — the month
  2. trunk — of a tree
  3. deal — an agreement
  4. bank — for money
  5. cap — a hat
  6. bear — the animal
  7. key — the most important part
  8. bank — of a river
  9. deal — a big deal
  10. cap — a lid
  11. march — music
  12. bank — for money
  13. spell — magic
  14. march — the month
  15. key — for a lock
  16. trunk — of an elephant
  17. bear — to put up with
  18. spell — letters
  19. bear — the animal
  20. cap — of ice
  21. trunk — of a car
  22. key — in music
  23. deal — to handle
  24. spell — a short time

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