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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: key · shower · bank · foot · track · board · ball · mark

  1. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  2. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  3. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  4. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  5. This piece is in a major ________________.
  6. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  7. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  8. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  9. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  10. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  11. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  12. The King held a masked ________________.
  13. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  14. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  15. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  16. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  17. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  18. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  19. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  20. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  21. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  22. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  23. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  24. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.

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

Answer key

  1. board — to get on
  2. shower — rain
  3. ball — a round shape
  4. bank — for money
  5. key — in music
  6. foot — a measure
  7. foot — the bottom
  8. mark — a grade
  9. shower — to wash
  10. board — a flat piece
  11. ball — a great time
  12. ball — a dance
  13. track — to keep track
  14. key — the most important part
  15. mark — to pay attention
  16. board — a committee
  17. mark — a trace
  18. shower — a meteor shower
  19. bank — of a river
  20. track — a path
  21. key — for a lock
  22. track — a song
  23. foot — part of the body
  24. bank — for money

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