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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 116 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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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: spell · racket · saw · mark · lean · bank

  1. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  3. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  4. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  5. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  6. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  7. She's very handy with a ________________.
  8. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  9. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  10. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  11. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  12. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  13. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  14. He works in a ________________ mill.
  15. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  16. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  17. How do you ________________ your surname?
  18. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. lean — to bend
  3. bank — for money
  4. lean — thin
  5. spell — a short time
  6. bank — for money
  7. saw — the tool
  8. racket — for tennis
  9. lean — to rest against
  10. racket — for tennis
  11. mark — a grade
  12. mark — a trace
  13. bank — of a river
  14. saw — the tool
  15. spell — magic
  16. mark — to pay attention
  17. spell — letters
  18. racket — a loud noise

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