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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 120 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. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  2. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  3. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  4. The King held a masked ________________.
  5. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  10. Have you found your soul ________________?
  11. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  12. Have you met the new head ________________?
  13. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  14. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  15. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  16. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  17. When will it ________________ you to start?
  18. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  19. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  20. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  21. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  22. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?

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

Answer key

  1. mate — to breed
  2. spring — the season
  3. suit — clothes
  4. ball — a dance
  5. ball — a round shape
  6. can — to be able to
  7. coach — pulled by horses
  8. can — a tin
  9. bank — for money
  10. mate — a partner
  11. suit — in cards
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. deal — to handle
  14. ball — a great time
  15. deal — a big deal
  16. spring — a coil
  17. suit — to fit
  18. spring — of water
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. deal — an agreement
  21. bank — for money
  22. bank — of a river
  23. can — a tin
  24. mate — a friend

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