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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. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  2. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  3. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  6. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  7. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  8. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  9. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  10. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  13. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  14. When will it ________________ you to start?
  15. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  16. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  17. Don't do anything ________________.
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  19. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  20. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  21. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  22. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  23. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  24. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. fork — a garden tool
  3. track — to keep track
  4. can — to be able to
  5. mark — a grade
  6. suit — clothes
  7. mark — a trace
  8. fork — in a road
  9. rash — a series
  10. branch — of a tree
  11. can — a tin
  12. bank — for money
  13. rash — on the skin
  14. suit — to fit
  15. branch — a division
  16. bank — of a river
  17. rash — hasty
  18. mark — to pay attention
  19. track — a song
  20. branch — of a bank
  21. track — a path
  22. suit — in cards
  23. bank — for money
  24. fork — to eat with

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