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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
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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: key · bank · season · straw · cap · track · bear · bowl

  1. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  2. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  3. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  4. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  5. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  6. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  7. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  8. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  9. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  10. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  11. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  12. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  13. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  14. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  15. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  16. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  17. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  18. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  19. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  20. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  21. Did you ________________ the meat?
  22. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  23. This piece is in a major ________________.
  24. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!

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

Answer key

  1. cap — a hat
  2. bank — for money
  3. season — in sport
  4. track — a path
  5. cap — of ice
  6. bowl — a dish
  7. bank — for money
  8. straw — dry grass
  9. key — for a lock
  10. bank — of a river
  11. bear — the animal
  12. bear — the animal
  13. key — the most important part
  14. straw — to clutch at straws
  15. season — of the year
  16. track — to keep track
  17. straw — a straw man
  18. cap — a lid
  19. bowl — to roll
  20. track — a song
  21. season — to add flavour
  22. bowl — a football final
  23. key — in music
  24. bear — to put up with

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