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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: lie · staff · net · stand · march · fan · bank · mine

  1. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  2. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  3. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  4. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  5. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  6. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  7. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  8. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  9. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  10. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  11. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  12. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  13. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  14. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  15. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  16. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  17. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  18. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  19. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  20. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  21. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  22. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  23. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  24. I can't ________________ this cold.

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

Answer key

  1. march — the month
  2. mine — belonging to me
  3. bank — for money
  4. bank — of a river
  5. net — after costs
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. fan — to cool the air
  8. net — for catching
  9. bank — for money
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. stand — for spectators
  12. staff — a stick
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. march — music
  16. mine — an explosive
  17. mine — for digging
  18. march — the month
  19. lie — to recline
  20. staff — employees
  21. staff — employees
  22. net — in sport
  23. stand — on your feet
  24. stand — to bear

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