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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: field · foot · jam · key · racket · dip · wave · bank

  1. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  2. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  3. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  6. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  7. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  8. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  9. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  10. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  11. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  12. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  13. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  14. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  15. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  16. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  17. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  18. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  19. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  20. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  21. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  22. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  23. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  24. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to sink
  2. racket — for tennis
  3. field — a subject
  4. key — in music
  5. key — the most important part
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. bank — for money
  8. wave — of the sea
  9. bank — for money
  10. foot — part of the body
  11. field — for sport
  12. foot — the bottom
  13. racket — a loud noise
  14. dip — a sauce
  15. foot — a measure
  16. field — farmland
  17. jam — to spread on bread
  18. bank — of a river
  19. wave — a sudden rise
  20. jam — in traffic
  21. jam — a tight spot
  22. dip — to dunk
  23. wave — with your hand
  24. key — for a lock

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