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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 120 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: lie · object · deal · ground · can · bat · bank · track

  1. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  2. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  3. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  4. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  7. There's no middle ________________.
  8. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  9. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  10. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  13. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  14. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  15. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  18. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  19. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  20. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  21. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  22. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  23. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  24. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.

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

Answer key

  1. bat — the animal
  2. track — to keep track
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. bank — for money
  5. can — a tin
  6. deal — an agreement
  7. ground — a position
  8. object — an aim
  9. ground — the earth
  10. deal — to handle
  11. can — a tin
  12. object — to protest
  13. bank — of a river
  14. bat — in an idiom
  15. track — a path
  16. can — to be able to
  17. track — a song
  18. object — a thing
  19. ground — crushed
  20. lie — to recline
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. bat — for baseball
  23. bank — for money
  24. deal — a big deal

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