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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: can · fan · date · perch · mine · bank · toast · press

  1. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  2. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  3. Did you ________________ the button?
  4. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  5. Have you settled on a ________________?
  6. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  7. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  8. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  9. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  10. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  11. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  12. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  15. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  16. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  17. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  22. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  23. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  24. He was blown up by a land ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. perch — for a bird
  3. press — to push
  4. perch — the fish
  5. date — on the calendar
  6. bank — for money
  7. toast — a drink to someone
  8. date — on the calendar
  9. press — newspapers
  10. fan — to cool the air
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. toast — the most admired
  13. can — a tin
  14. perch — for a bird
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. bank — of a river
  17. date — the fruit
  18. can — to be able to
  19. mine — belonging to me
  20. can — a tin
  21. toast — bread
  22. mine — for digging
  23. press — a publisher
  24. mine — an explosive

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