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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: can · snap · staff · leaves · mouse · bank · fine · hand

  1. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  4. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  5. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  6. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  7. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  10. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  11. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  12. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  13. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  14. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  15. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  21. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  22. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  23. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  24. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. fine — a penalty
  5. fine — high quality
  6. staff — employees
  7. fine — all right
  8. can — to be able to
  9. bank — for money
  10. hand — in cards
  11. bank — for money
  12. snap — to click
  13. hand — part of the body
  14. leaves — to go away
  15. staff — a stick
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. staff — employees
  18. can — a tin
  19. can — a tin
  20. hand — help
  21. mouse — for a computer
  22. snap — to snap out of it
  23. snap — to speak sharply
  24. bank — of a river

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