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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
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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: suit · track · season · can · bank · scale · wake · roll

  1. When will it ________________ you to start?
  2. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  3. We're on a ________________ here.
  4. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  5. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  6. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  11. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  12. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  13. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  14. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  17. Did you ________________ the meat?
  18. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  19. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  20. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  21. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  22. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  23. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  24. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — to fit
  2. season — of the year
  3. roll — on a roll
  4. roll — a cake
  5. scale — for weighing
  6. wake — to stop sleeping
  7. can — a tin
  8. track — a path
  9. can — a tin
  10. season — in sport
  11. wake — a trail
  12. scale — in music
  13. bank — of a river
  14. roll — a list
  15. can — to be able to
  16. scale — size or range
  17. season — to add flavour
  18. suit — in cards
  19. track — to keep track
  20. bank — for money
  21. wake — before a funeral
  22. track — a song
  23. suit — clothes
  24. bank — for money

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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