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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: pound · key · staff · bank · safe · foot · dip · field

  1. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  2. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  3. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  4. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  5. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  6. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  9. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  10. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  11. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  12. This piece is in a major ________________.
  13. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  14. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  15. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  16. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  17. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  18. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  19. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  20. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  23. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. field — farmland
  3. pound — to hit hard
  4. bank — for money
  5. field — for sport
  6. bank — of a river
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. staff — employees
  9. key — for a lock
  10. foot — the bottom
  11. field — a subject
  12. key — in music
  13. dip — a sauce
  14. pound — a weight
  15. staff — employees
  16. dip — to sink
  17. key — the most important part
  18. dip — to dunk
  19. foot — part of the body
  20. staff — a stick
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. foot — a measure
  23. pound — for dogs
  24. safe — out of danger

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