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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: stick · ball · bank · fan · suit · spring

  1. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  2. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  3. When will it ________________ you to start?
  4. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  5. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  6. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  7. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  8. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  9. The King held a masked ________________.
  10. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  11. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  12. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  13. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  14. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  15. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  16. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  17. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  18. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — of a river
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. suit — to fit
  4. ball — a great time
  5. ball — a round shape
  6. stick — a piece of wood
  7. fan — to cool the air
  8. spring — of water
  9. ball — a dance
  10. stick — a piece of wood
  11. spring — a coil
  12. bank — for money
  13. suit — in cards
  14. bank — for money
  15. stick — to attach or keep to
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. spring — the season
  18. suit — clothes

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