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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.

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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: track · bank · safe · rock · can · march · tube · deal

  1. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  2. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  3. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  4. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  5. I'll be taking the ________________.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  12. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  13. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  14. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  17. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  18. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  19. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  20. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  21. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — an agreement
  2. track — a song
  3. bank — of a river
  4. bank — for money
  5. tube — the underground
  6. can — a tin
  7. march — music
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. deal — to handle
  10. can — a tin
  11. deal — a big deal
  12. march — the month
  13. march — the month
  14. rock — music
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. track — to keep track
  17. rock — a stone
  18. tube — in a tire
  19. tube — a container
  20. bank — for money
  21. track — a path
  22. can — to be able to
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. safe — a strongbox

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