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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: lean · face · can · suit · bay · fan · key · bank

  1. When will it ________________ you to start?
  2. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  5. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  6. My mare is ________________ in color.
  7. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  8. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  11. This piece is in a major ________________.
  12. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  13. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  14. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  15. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  16. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  17. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  18. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  19. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  22. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  23. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  24. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — to fit
  2. key — the most important part
  3. can — to be able to
  4. fan — to cool the air
  5. key — for a lock
  6. bay — a horse colour
  7. face — to confront
  8. bank — of a river
  9. can — a tin
  10. suit — clothes
  11. key — in music
  12. lean — to rest against
  13. bank — for money
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. bay — to keep at bay
  16. bank — for money
  17. bay — a part of the sea
  18. suit — in cards
  19. face — to point toward
  20. can — a tin
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. face — part of the head
  23. lean — thin
  24. lean — to bend

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