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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
468
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: cap · bore · foot · bank · mate · can · bear · spell

  1. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  2. How do you ________________ your surname?
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  7. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  8. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  9. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  10. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  13. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  14. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  15. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  16. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  17. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  18. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  19. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  20. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  21. Have you found your soul ________________?
  22. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  23. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  24. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?

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

Answer key

  1. foot — the bottom
  2. spell — letters
  3. can — to be able to
  4. spell — magic
  5. can — a tin
  6. bank — for money
  7. cap — of ice
  8. bear — the animal
  9. foot — a measure
  10. foot — part of the body
  11. can — a tin
  12. cap — a hat
  13. cap — a lid
  14. mate — to breed
  15. bank — for money
  16. bore — to drill
  17. bear — to put up with
  18. bore — to tire
  19. bank — of a river
  20. bear — the animal
  21. mate — a partner
  22. bore — gave birth
  23. spell — a short time
  24. mate — a friend

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