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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 116 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: suit · can · kid · bank · track · charge · deal · stem

  1. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  4. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  7. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  8. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  9. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  10. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  11. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  12. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  13. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  14. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  15. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  16. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  17. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  18. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  21. When will it ________________ you to start?
  22. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  23. The tickets are free of ________________.
  24. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.

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

Answer key

  1. kid — to tease
  2. can — to be able to
  3. deal — a big deal
  4. suit — in cards
  5. can — a tin
  6. charge — in control
  7. stem — a stem cell
  8. stem — of a plant
  9. track — to keep track
  10. kid — child
  11. charge — electricity
  12. bank — for money
  13. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  14. stem — to come from
  15. track — a song
  16. track — a path
  17. bank — of a river
  18. suit — clothes
  19. can — a tin
  20. deal — an agreement
  21. suit — to fit
  22. deal — to handle
  23. charge — a price
  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