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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: prune · rock · bank · net · can · deal · key · trunk

  1. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  2. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  6. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  7. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  10. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  11. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  12. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  13. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  14. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  15. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  16. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  17. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  23. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  24. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.

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

Answer key

  1. key — the most important part
  2. prune — to trim
  3. can — a tin
  4. key — in music
  5. trunk — of an elephant
  6. deal — a big deal
  7. bank — for money
  8. rock — a stone
  9. net — after costs
  10. net — for catching
  11. rock — music
  12. deal — to handle
  13. trunk — of a tree
  14. deal — an agreement
  15. prune — the fruit
  16. prune — to trim
  17. net — in sport
  18. can — a tin
  19. can — to be able to
  20. bank — of a river
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. key — for a lock
  23. trunk — of a car
  24. bank — for money

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