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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
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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: firm · suit · spring · capital · craft · bank · pitcher · can

  1. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  4. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  5. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  6. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  7. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  8. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  9. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  10. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  11. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  12. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  13. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  14. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  15. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  16. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. When will it ________________ you to start?
  21. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  22. He is an ace ________________.
  23. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  24. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — a jug
  2. can — to be able to
  3. spring — of water
  4. bank — for money
  5. craft — a handicraft
  6. firm — decided
  7. suit — clothes
  8. craft — boats
  9. craft — a skill
  10. spring — the season
  11. bank — for money
  12. spring — a coil
  13. suit — in cards
  14. capital — money
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. firm — steady
  17. can — a tin
  18. capital — a city
  19. can — a tin
  20. suit — to fit
  21. capital — a big letter
  22. pitcher — in baseball
  23. firm — a company
  24. bank — of a river

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