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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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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: land · spring · leaves · pit · foot · key · ruler · bank

  1. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  2. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  3. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  4. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  5. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  6. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  7. When are we going to ________________?
  8. This piece is in a major ________________.
  9. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  10. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  11. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  12. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  13. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  14. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  15. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  16. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  17. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  20. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  21. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  22. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  23. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  24. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — a measure
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. pit — a hole
  4. pit — in a race
  5. foot — part of the body
  6. bank — for money
  7. land — to come down
  8. key — in music
  9. leaves — lets stay
  10. land — ground
  11. pit — a fruit stone
  12. spring — of water
  13. leaves — to go away
  14. leaves — of a tree
  15. spring — the season
  16. bank — for money
  17. bank — of a river
  18. key — the most important part
  19. ruler — a monarch
  20. spring — a coil
  21. key — for a lock
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. land — a country
  24. foot — the bottom

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