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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: jam · net · branch · bank · fan · present · track · spell

  1. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  2. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  3. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  4. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  5. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  6. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  7. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  8. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  9. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  10. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  11. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  12. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  13. How do you ________________ your surname?
  14. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  15. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  16. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  17. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  18. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  19. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  20. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  21. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  22. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  23. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  24. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. present — the time now
  3. present — there
  4. net — after costs
  5. jam — a tight spot
  6. spell — a short time
  7. jam — in traffic
  8. net — for catching
  9. track — a path
  10. track — a song
  11. jam — to spread on bread
  12. bank — of a river
  13. spell — letters
  14. branch — a division
  15. present — a gift
  16. track — to keep track
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. net — in sport
  20. branch — of a tree
  21. bank — for money
  22. branch — of a bank
  23. fan — to cool the air
  24. spell — magic

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