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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: saw · bay · wave · bank · bear · can · prune · season

  1. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  2. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  3. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  4. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  5. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  6. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  7. He works in a ________________ mill.
  8. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  9. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  10. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  15. My mare is ________________ in color.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  18. Did you ________________ the meat?
  19. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  20. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  21. She's very handy with a ________________.
  22. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  23. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  24. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. season — of the year
  2. bay — a part of the sea
  3. wave — of the sea
  4. saw — past of 'see'
  5. wave — with your hand
  6. prune — to trim
  7. saw — the tool
  8. bank — for money
  9. bear — the animal
  10. bear — the animal
  11. can — to be able to
  12. prune — to trim
  13. can — a tin
  14. bank — of a river
  15. bay — a horse colour
  16. can — a tin
  17. wave — a sudden rise
  18. season — to add flavour
  19. bank — for money
  20. bear — to put up with
  21. saw — the tool
  22. bay — to keep at bay
  23. prune — the fruit
  24. season — in sport

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