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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: spell · can · bank · bay · stock · bulb · temple · rock

  1. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  2. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  3. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  8. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  9. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  14. How do you ________________ your surname?
  15. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  18. When was this ________________ built?
  19. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  20. The ________________ market has crashed.
  21. My mare is ________________ in color.
  22. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  23. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  24. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. spell — a short time
  3. rock — to move gently
  4. can — to be able to
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. can — a tin
  7. rock — music
  8. bank — for money
  9. stock — a soup base
  10. bulb — for light
  11. stock — goods
  12. bulb — for light
  13. bank — for money
  14. spell — letters
  15. bulb — of a plant
  16. can — a tin
  17. spell — magic
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. bay — a part of the sea
  20. stock — shares
  21. bay — a horse colour
  22. rock — a stone
  23. bank — of a river
  24. temple — side of the head

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