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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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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: season · spell · stand · mouse · leaves · staff · bank · net

  1. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  2. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  3. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  4. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  5. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  6. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  7. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  8. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  9. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  10. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  11. How do you ________________ your surname?
  12. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  13. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  14. I can't ________________ this cold.
  15. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  16. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  17. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  18. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  19. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  20. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  21. Did you ________________ the meat?
  22. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  23. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. net — for catching
  3. net — after costs
  4. mouse — for a computer
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. staff — employees
  7. stand — for spectators
  8. bank — of a river
  9. season — in sport
  10. staff — a stick
  11. spell — letters
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. bank — for money
  14. stand — to bear
  15. spell — a short time
  16. net — in sport
  17. staff — employees
  18. leaves — to go away
  19. bank — for money
  20. stand — on your feet
  21. season — to add flavour
  22. season — of the year
  23. spell — magic
  24. leaves — lets stay

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