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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: stick · season · racket · bank · lean · nail · bat · mark

  1. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  2. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  3. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  4. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  5. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  6. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  7. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  8. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  9. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  10. The ________________ went through the wall.
  11. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  12. Did you ________________ the meat?
  13. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  14. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  15. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  16. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  17. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  18. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  19. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  20. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  21. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  22. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  23. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  24. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — of a river
  2. bat — the animal
  3. season — in sport
  4. racket — a loud noise
  5. racket — for tennis
  6. nail — on a finger
  7. mark — to pay attention
  8. lean — thin
  9. stick — to attach or keep to
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. bank — for money
  12. season — to add flavour
  13. lean — to rest against
  14. mark — a trace
  15. bat — in an idiom
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. mark — a grade
  18. stick — a piece of wood
  19. racket — for tennis
  20. lean — to bend
  21. season — of the year
  22. stick — a piece of wood
  23. bank — for money
  24. bat — for baseball

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