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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 120 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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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: last · suit · press · bay · net · ground · key · bank

  1. There's no middle ________________.
  2. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  3. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  4. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  5. My mare is ________________ in color.
  6. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  7. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  8. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  9. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  10. Did you ________________ the button?
  11. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  12. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  13. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  14. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  15. False peace will not ________________.
  16. When will it ________________ you to start?
  17. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  18. This piece is in a major ________________.
  19. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  20. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  21. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  22. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  23. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  24. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ground — a position
  2. bank — for money
  3. press — newspapers
  4. net — after costs
  5. bay — a horse colour
  6. press — a publisher
  7. net — in sport
  8. key — the most important part
  9. ground — the earth
  10. press — to push
  11. bay — a part of the sea
  12. key — for a lock
  13. bay — to keep at bay
  14. suit — clothes
  15. last — to go on
  16. suit — to fit
  17. last — final
  18. key — in music
  19. bank — of a river
  20. last — finally
  21. net — for catching
  22. ground — crushed
  23. bank — for money
  24. suit — in cards

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