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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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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: mark · suit · track · calf · wave · toast · bank · pitch

  1. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  2. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  3. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  4. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  5. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  6. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  7. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  8. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  9. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  10. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  11. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  12. When will it ________________ you to start?
  13. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  14. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  15. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  16. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  17. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  18. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  19. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  20. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  21. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  22. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  23. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  24. She got the top ________________ in the exam.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — to pay attention
  2. toast — bread
  3. suit — clothes
  4. track — a path
  5. calf — of the leg
  6. wave — with your hand
  7. suit — in cards
  8. bank — for money
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. track — to keep track
  11. toast — a drink to someone
  12. suit — to fit
  13. bank — for money
  14. bank — of a river
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. track — a song
  17. pitch — a sports field
  18. pitch — a sales talk
  19. toast — the most admired
  20. wave — of the sea
  21. pitch — completely
  22. mark — a trace
  23. wave — a sudden rise
  24. mark — a grade

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