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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: date · staff · bank · can · leaves · rock · squash · sharp

  1. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  5. Have you settled on a ________________?
  6. It's one o'clock ________________.
  7. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  10. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  13. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  14. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  17. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  20. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  21. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  22. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  23. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  24. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. can — a tin
  4. squash — to crush
  5. date — on the calendar
  6. sharp — exactly
  7. leaves — lets stay
  8. can — a tin
  9. staff — employees
  10. squash — the vegetable
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. rock — to move gently
  13. bank — for money
  14. date — on the calendar
  15. rock — music
  16. sharp — with an edge
  17. bank — of a river
  18. can — to be able to
  19. staff — a stick
  20. sharp — clever
  21. squash — the sport
  22. rock — a stone
  23. staff — employees
  24. date — the fruit

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