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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: date · bank · toast · net · bear · track · straw · leaves

  1. Have you settled on a ________________?
  2. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  3. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  4. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  5. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  6. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  7. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  8. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  9. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  10. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  11. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  12. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  13. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  14. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  15. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  16. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  17. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  18. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  19. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  20. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  21. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  22. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  23. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  24. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.

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

Answer key

  1. date — on the calendar
  2. bank — of a river
  3. bear — the animal
  4. bear — to put up with
  5. net — in sport
  6. toast — a drink to someone
  7. bear — the animal
  8. straw — a straw man
  9. date — the fruit
  10. net — after costs
  11. leaves — lets stay
  12. net — for catching
  13. bank — for money
  14. track — a path
  15. track — to keep track
  16. straw — to clutch at straws
  17. leaves — of a tree
  18. toast — bread
  19. track — a song
  20. date — on the calendar
  21. toast — the most admired
  22. leaves — to go away
  23. straw — dry grass
  24. bank — for money

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