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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 · net · toast · bear · nail · bank · spell · leaves

  1. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  2. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  3. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  4. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  5. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  8. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  9. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  10. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  11. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  12. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  13. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  14. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  15. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  16. The ________________ went through the wall.
  17. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  18. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  19. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  20. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  21. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  22. How do you ________________ your surname?
  23. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  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. leaves — to go away
  2. bear — the animal
  3. toast — bread
  4. fork — to eat with
  5. fork — in a road
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. bear — to put up with
  8. bank — for money
  9. fork — a garden tool
  10. leaves — lets stay
  11. toast — the most admired
  12. bank — for money
  13. bear — the animal
  14. net — for catching
  15. bank — of a river
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. spell — magic
  18. nail — on a finger
  19. spell — a short time
  20. net — after costs
  21. toast — a drink to someone
  22. spell — letters
  23. nail — for a hammer
  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