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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.

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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: dip · land · branch · net · bay · hide · bank · track

  1. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  2. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  3. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  4. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  5. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  6. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  7. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  8. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  9. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  10. When are we going to ________________?
  11. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  12. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  13. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  14. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  15. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  16. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  17. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  18. My mare is ________________ in color.
  19. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  20. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  21. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  22. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  23. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  24. What was your ________________ profit last year?

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

Answer key

  1. land — a country
  2. dip — a sauce
  3. hide — animal skin
  4. bay — a part of the sea
  5. track — a path
  6. track — to keep track
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. dip — to sink
  9. bank — of a river
  10. land — to come down
  11. dip — to dunk
  12. bank — for money
  13. branch — of a bank
  14. hide — to keep secret
  15. net — in sport
  16. bay — to keep at bay
  17. net — for catching
  18. bay — a horse colour
  19. branch — a division
  20. branch — of a tree
  21. track — a song
  22. land — ground
  23. bank — for money
  24. net — after costs

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