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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 116 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: stand · mate · suit · bank · racket · squash · prune · land

  1. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  2. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  3. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  4. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  5. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  6. Have you found your soul ________________?
  7. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  8. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  9. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  10. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  11. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  12. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  13. I can't ________________ this cold.
  14. When are we going to ________________?
  15. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  16. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  17. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  18. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  21. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  22. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  23. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  24. He hit the ball with his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — of a river
  2. mate — to breed
  3. mate — a friend
  4. land — ground
  5. squash — the vegetable
  6. mate — a partner
  7. squash — to crush
  8. racket — a loud noise
  9. suit — in cards
  10. stand — for spectators
  11. racket — for tennis
  12. bank — for money
  13. stand — to bear
  14. land — to come down
  15. squash — the sport
  16. suit — clothes
  17. prune — the fruit
  18. stand — on your feet
  19. suit — to fit
  20. prune — to trim
  21. prune — to trim
  22. land — a country
  23. bank — for money
  24. racket — for tennis

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