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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: suit · branch · bay · club · race · bank · net · jam

  1. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  2. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  3. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  4. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  5. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  6. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  7. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  8. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  9. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  10. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  11. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  12. When will it ________________ you to start?
  13. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  14. My mare is ________________ in color.
  15. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  16. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  17. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  18. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  19. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  20. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  21. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  22. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  23. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  24. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. club — a group
  3. net — for catching
  4. bay — a part of the sea
  5. jam — in traffic
  6. club — for golf
  7. race — the arms race
  8. bank — for money
  9. net — in sport
  10. race — humankind
  11. branch — a division
  12. suit — to fit
  13. suit — clothes
  14. bay — a horse colour
  15. branch — of a bank
  16. suit — in cards
  17. club — for dancing
  18. jam — to spread on bread
  19. bank — of a river
  20. net — after costs
  21. jam — a tight spot
  22. branch — of a tree
  23. bank — for money
  24. race — a contest

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