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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. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  2. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. There's no middle ________________.
  5. This piece is in a major ________________.
  6. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  7. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  8. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  9. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  10. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  11. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  12. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  15. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  16. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  17. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  18. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  19. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  20. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  21. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  22. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  23. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  24. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.

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

Answer key

  1. can — to be able to
  2. bank — of a river
  3. can — a tin
  4. ground — a position
  5. key — in music
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. ground — crushed
  8. pass — a permit
  9. kick — with a leg
  10. foot — part of the body
  11. fan — to cool the air
  12. key — the most important part
  13. can — a tin
  14. kick — a thrill
  15. bank — for money
  16. ground — the earth
  17. bank — for money
  18. foot — a measure
  19. pass — to spend time
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. foot — the bottom
  22. pass — to succeed
  23. key — for a lock
  24. kick — in football

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