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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: wake · jam · fork · mine · pass · bank · can · bulb

  1. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  2. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  4. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  5. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  6. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  7. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  8. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  9. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  10. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  11. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  12. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  13. I've got to change the light ________________.
  14. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  15. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  16. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  17. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  18. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  19. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  20. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.

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

Answer key

  1. fork — in a road
  2. bulb — for light
  3. mine — an explosive
  4. pass — to spend time
  5. bank — of a river
  6. wake — a trail
  7. wake — before a funeral
  8. bank — for money
  9. mine — belonging to me
  10. wake — to stop sleeping
  11. fork — a garden tool
  12. jam — to spread on bread
  13. bulb — for light
  14. pass — a permit
  15. bulb — of a plant
  16. mine — for digging
  17. pass — to succeed
  18. jam — a tight spot
  19. bank — for money
  20. fork — to eat with
  21. can — to be able to
  22. jam — in traffic
  23. can — a tin
  24. can — a tin

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