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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: bank · band · fine · hide · ball · racket · fall · season

  1. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  2. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  3. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  4. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  5. Did you ________________ the meat?
  6. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  7. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  8. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  9. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  10. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  11. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  12. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  13. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  14. The King held a masked ________________.
  15. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  16. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  17. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  18. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  19. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  20. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  21. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  22. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  23. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  24. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.

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

Answer key

  1. season — of the year
  2. fine — high quality
  3. racket — a loud noise
  4. bank — for money
  5. season — to add flavour
  6. band — a rubber band
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. bank — of a river
  9. band — a music group
  10. fine — all right
  11. season — in sport
  12. fine — a penalty
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. ball — a dance
  15. ball — a round shape
  16. racket — for tennis
  17. fall — to drop
  18. fall — the season
  19. bank — for money
  20. ball — a great time
  21. racket — for tennis
  22. band — a ring
  23. hide — animal skin
  24. fall — to drop

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