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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. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  2. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  3. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  4. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  5. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  6. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  7. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  8. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  9. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  10. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  11. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  14. I can't ________________ this cold.
  15. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  16. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  17. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  18. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  19. Have you found your soul ________________?
  20. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  21. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  22. When will it ________________ you to start?
  23. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  24. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. spring — of water
  2. bear — the animal
  3. bank — of a river
  4. leaves — of a tree
  5. mate — a friend
  6. suit — clothes
  7. squash — the vegetable
  8. bank — for money
  9. squash — to crush
  10. stand — on your feet
  11. bear — the animal
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. suit — in cards
  14. stand — to bear
  15. bear — to put up with
  16. bank — for money
  17. spring — a coil
  18. mate — to breed
  19. mate — a partner
  20. leaves — lets stay
  21. spring — the season
  22. suit — to fit
  23. squash — the sport
  24. stand — for spectators

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