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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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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: march · roll · staff · pit · bay · leaves · swing · bank

  1. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  2. David sat on the ________________.
  3. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  4. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  5. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  6. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  9. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  10. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  11. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  12. We're on a ________________ here.
  13. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  14. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  15. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  16. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  17. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  18. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  19. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  20. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  21. My mare is ________________ in color.
  22. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  23. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  24. The old man leaned on his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — of a river
  2. swing — to play on
  3. bank — for money
  4. march — the month
  5. bay — to keep at bay
  6. bank — for money
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. bay — a part of the sea
  9. staff — employees
  10. march — the month
  11. pit — a hole
  12. roll — on a roll
  13. swing — music
  14. roll — a list
  15. pit — a fruit stone
  16. staff — employees
  17. leaves — of a tree
  18. leaves — lets stay
  19. swing — in golf
  20. march — music
  21. bay — a horse colour
  22. pit — in a race
  23. roll — a cake
  24. staff — a stick

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