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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.

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: key · foot · leaves · charge · mate · bank · capital · spring

  1. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  2. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  4. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  5. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  10. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  11. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  12. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  13. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  14. The tickets are free of ________________.
  15. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  16. Have you found your soul ________________?
  17. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  18. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  19. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  20. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  21. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  22. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  23. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  24. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.

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

Answer key

  1. capital — a big letter
  2. key — in music
  3. mate — to breed
  4. charge — in control
  5. leaves — of a tree
  6. key — the most important part
  7. spring — the season
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. bank — of a river
  10. foot — the bottom
  11. spring — of water
  12. charge — electricity
  13. bank — for money
  14. charge — a price
  15. leaves — lets stay
  16. mate — a partner
  17. foot — part of the body
  18. capital — a city
  19. key — for a lock
  20. mate — a friend
  21. capital — money
  22. foot — a measure
  23. spring — a coil
  24. bank — for money

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