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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: fan · jam · bank · key · deal · march · capital · press

  1. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  2. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  4. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  5. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  6. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  7. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  8. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  9. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  10. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  11. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  12. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  13. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  14. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  15. Did you ________________ the button?
  16. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  17. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  18. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  19. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  20. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  21. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  22. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  23. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  24. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — a big deal
  2. key — in music
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. press — newspapers
  5. bank — for money
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. fan — to cool the air
  8. deal — to handle
  9. march — the month
  10. jam — to spread on bread
  11. capital — a big letter
  12. jam — a tight spot
  13. capital — a city
  14. deal — an agreement
  15. press — to push
  16. bank — for money
  17. key — for a lock
  18. press — a publisher
  19. march — music
  20. march — the month
  21. bank — of a river
  22. jam — in traffic
  23. key — the most important part
  24. capital — money

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