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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: fork · rest · dip · leaves · suit · bank · bound · date

  1. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  2. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. Have you settled on a ________________?
  4. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  5. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  6. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  7. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  8. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  9. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  10. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  11. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  12. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  13. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  14. That was ________________ to happen.
  15. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  16. When will it ________________ you to start?
  17. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  18. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  19. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  20. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  21. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  22. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  23. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  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. dip — to dunk
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. date — on the calendar
  4. rest — a break
  5. leaves — of a tree
  6. bank — for money
  7. fork — a garden tool
  8. dip — a sauce
  9. dip — to sink
  10. bank — of a river
  11. bound — tied together
  12. bank — for money
  13. bound — obliged
  14. bound — certain
  15. leaves — to go away
  16. suit — to fit
  17. date — on the calendar
  18. fork — in a road
  19. fork — to eat with
  20. rest — what's left
  21. suit — in cards
  22. rest — what's left
  23. suit — clothes
  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