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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: can · trunk · key · bark · scale · last · bank · suit

  1. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  2. False peace will not ________________.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  9. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  10. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  11. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  12. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  13. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  14. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  15. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  16. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  17. When will it ________________ you to start?
  18. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  19. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  22. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  23. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  24. This piece is in a major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — in cards
  2. last — to go on
  3. can — to be able to
  4. bark — to shout
  5. can — a tin
  6. suit — clothes
  7. can — a tin
  8. trunk — of an elephant
  9. bank — of a river
  10. scale — size or range
  11. key — the most important part
  12. bark — of a tree
  13. bank — for money
  14. last — finally
  15. scale — for weighing
  16. trunk — of a tree
  17. suit — to fit
  18. scale — in music
  19. bank — for money
  20. key — for a lock
  21. bark — a dog's sound
  22. trunk — of a car
  23. last — final
  24. key — in music

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