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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. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  2. How do you ________________ your surname?
  3. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  6. Did you ________________ the button?
  7. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  8. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  9. When was this ________________ built?
  10. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  11. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  12. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  13. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  14. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  15. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  16. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  17. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  18. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  19. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  20. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  21. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  24. I've got the luggage in my ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. spell — letters
  3. trunk — of an elephant
  4. key — in music
  5. trunk — of a tree
  6. press — to push
  7. key — for a lock
  8. pit — in a race
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. bank — for money
  11. track — a path
  12. track — a song
  13. spell — a short time
  14. press — newspapers
  15. pit — a fruit stone
  16. press — a publisher
  17. bank — of a river
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. temple — side of the head
  20. spell — magic
  21. track — to keep track
  22. key — the most important part
  23. pit — a hole
  24. trunk — of a car

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