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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: suit · wind · pop · prune · bank · bass · can · saw

  1. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  2. We're almost out of ________________.
  3. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  4. You don't need to ________________ round.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  7. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  8. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  9. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  10. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  11. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  12. She's very handy with a ________________.
  13. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  14. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  15. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. When will it ________________ you to start?
  18. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  19. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  20. He works in a ________________ mill.
  21. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  24. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — the fish
  2. pop — soda
  3. bass — low music
  4. pop — to visit
  5. can — a tin
  6. wind — moving air
  7. bank — for money
  8. wind — moving air
  9. bank — for money
  10. prune — to trim
  11. pop — music
  12. saw — the tool
  13. suit — clothes
  14. prune — the fruit
  15. prune — to trim
  16. can — a tin
  17. suit — to fit
  18. bass — the instrument
  19. suit — in cards
  20. saw — the tool
  21. saw — past of 'see'
  22. can — to be able to
  23. bank — of a river
  24. wind — to turn a key

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