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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 116 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: net · squash · season · bank · pass · vault · branch · bay

  1. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  2. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  3. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  4. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  5. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  6. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  7. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  8. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  9. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  10. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  11. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  12. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  13. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  14. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  15. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  16. My mare is ________________ in color.
  17. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  18. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  19. Did you ________________ the meat?
  20. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  21. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  22. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  23. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  24. The ball hit the back of the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. vault — an arched ceiling
  3. net — after costs
  4. pass — to succeed
  5. branch — of a tree
  6. pass — to spend time
  7. vault — a safe
  8. branch — a division
  9. season — in sport
  10. squash — the vegetable
  11. bank — of a river
  12. vault — in gymnastics
  13. bay — a part of the sea
  14. branch — of a bank
  15. bay — to keep at bay
  16. bay — a horse colour
  17. bank — for money
  18. net — for catching
  19. season — to add flavour
  20. squash — the sport
  21. squash — to crush
  22. season — of the year
  23. pass — a permit
  24. net — in sport

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