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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 120 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: net · bark · can · leaves · mug · prune · dip · bank

  1. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  2. Where did you ________________ them?
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  9. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  10. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  13. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  14. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  15. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  16. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  19. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  20. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  21. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  22. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  23. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  24. The ball hit the back of the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a face
  2. mug — to rob
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. dip — a sauce
  5. can — to be able to
  6. dip — to sink
  7. can — a tin
  8. bank — of a river
  9. bark — of a tree
  10. dip — to dunk
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. bank — for money
  13. prune — to trim
  14. mug — a cup
  15. net — for catching
  16. bark — to shout
  17. can — a tin
  18. net — after costs
  19. leaves — lets stay
  20. prune — to trim
  21. prune — the fruit
  22. bark — a dog's sound
  23. bank — for money
  24. net — in sport

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