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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
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: present · stand · nail · land · rock · bank · date · key

  1. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  2. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  3. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  4. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  5. I can't ________________ this cold.
  6. When are we going to ________________?
  7. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  8. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  9. The ________________ went through the wall.
  10. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  11. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  12. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  13. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  14. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  15. This piece is in a major ________________.
  16. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  17. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  18. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  19. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  20. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  21. Have you settled on a ________________?
  22. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  23. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  24. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. present — there
  2. date — the fruit
  3. stand — on your feet
  4. bank — for money
  5. stand — to bear
  6. land — to come down
  7. land — ground
  8. rock — music
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. present — the time now
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. key — the most important part
  13. nail — on a finger
  14. rock — a stone
  15. key — in music
  16. rock — to move gently
  17. key — for a lock
  18. present — a gift
  19. bank — for money
  20. land — a country
  21. date — on the calendar
  22. date — on the calendar
  23. stand — for spectators
  24. bank — of a river

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