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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 · cold · band · lash · mine · leaves · can · mark

  1. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  4. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  9. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  10. Its rival in the ________________ War, the Soviet Union, exploited this at the time.
  11. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  12. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  13. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  14. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  17. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  18. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  19. The water is too ________________.
  20. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  21. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  22. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  23. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  24. I had a bad ________________ and was in bed for a week.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — lets stay
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. lash — an eyelash
  4. lash — to lash out
  5. can — a tin
  6. bank — for money
  7. can — a tin
  8. bank — of a river
  9. mark — a trace
  10. cold — the Cold War
  11. mine — belonging to me
  12. lash — a whip stroke
  13. mine — for digging
  14. band — a rubber band
  15. can — to be able to
  16. leaves — to go away
  17. mark — a grade
  18. band — a music group
  19. cold — not warm
  20. mine — an explosive
  21. mark — to pay attention
  22. bank — for money
  23. band — a ring
  24. cold — an illness

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