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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: can · cabinet · bank · ball · land · suit · mark · last

  1. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  3. False peace will not ________________.
  4. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  5. What do you think of the new ________________?
  6. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  7. When will it ________________ you to start?
  8. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  9. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  10. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  11. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  12. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. When are we going to ________________?
  15. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  16. The King held a masked ________________.
  17. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  18. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  19. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  20. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  23. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  24. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. bank — for money
  3. last — to go on
  4. cabinet — a cupboard
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. last — finally
  7. suit — to fit
  8. ball — a round shape
  9. mark — a trace
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. ball — a great time
  12. mark — a grade
  13. can — a tin
  14. land — to come down
  15. bank — for money
  16. ball — a dance
  17. land — a country
  18. land — ground
  19. bank — of a river
  20. last — final
  21. can — to be able to
  22. suit — in cards
  23. mark — to pay attention
  24. can — a tin

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