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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.

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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: foot · track · leaves · board · rule · toast · patient · bank

  1. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  2. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  3. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  4. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  5. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  6. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  7. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  8. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  11. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  12. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  13. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  14. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  15. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  16. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  17. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  18. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  19. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  20. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  21. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  22. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  23. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  24. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. rule — a law
  3. rule — to rule out
  4. foot — a measure
  5. rule — government
  6. board — a committee
  7. board — a flat piece
  8. toast — the most admired
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. bank — of a river
  11. board — to get on
  12. track — to keep track
  13. track — a song
  14. track — a path
  15. toast — a drink to someone
  16. leaves — to go away
  17. leaves — lets stay
  18. patient — a sick person
  19. patient — a sick person
  20. bank — for money
  21. foot — part of the body
  22. toast — bread
  23. patient — calm and waiting
  24. foot — the bottom

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