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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: bank · trunk · cap · sharp · suit · can · leaves · pound

  1. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  2. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  4. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  7. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  8. When will it ________________ you to start?
  9. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  10. It's one o'clock ________________.
  11. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  12. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  13. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  14. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  15. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  16. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  17. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  18. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  19. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  22. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. The polar ice ________________ is melting.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — in cards
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. bank — for money
  4. pound — a weight
  5. can — to be able to
  6. trunk — of a car
  7. bank — of a river
  8. suit — to fit
  9. cap — a hat
  10. sharp — exactly
  11. sharp — with an edge
  12. pound — for dogs
  13. suit — clothes
  14. leaves — to go away
  15. sharp — clever
  16. cap — a lid
  17. trunk — of a tree
  18. leaves — of a tree
  19. pound — to hit hard
  20. can — a tin
  21. bank — for money
  22. trunk — of an elephant
  23. can — a tin
  24. cap — of ice

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