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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
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: leaves · rule · chest · bulb · fall · date · season · bank

  1. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  2. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  3. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  4. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  5. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  6. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  7. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  8. Have you settled on a ________________?
  9. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  10. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  11. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  12. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  13. Did you ________________ the meat?
  14. I've got to change the light ________________.
  15. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  16. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  17. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  18. The light ________________ burned out.
  19. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  20. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  21. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  22. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  23. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  24. The train ________________ at six o'clock.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — of a river
  2. rule — to rule out
  3. chest — a box
  4. season — in sport
  5. rule — a law
  6. season — of the year
  7. leaves — of a tree
  8. date — on the calendar
  9. bank — for money
  10. rule — government
  11. fall — the season
  12. date — on the calendar
  13. season — to add flavour
  14. bulb — for light
  15. chest — of your body
  16. bulb — of a plant
  17. date — the fruit
  18. bulb — for light
  19. fall — to drop
  20. leaves — lets stay
  21. bank — for money
  22. chest — of your body
  23. fall — to drop
  24. leaves — to go away

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