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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: season · bear · can · mouse · track · wave · bank · wake

  1. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  2. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  3. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  6. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  9. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  10. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  11. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  14. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  15. Did you ________________ the meat?
  16. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  17. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  18. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  19. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  20. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  21. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  22. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  23. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  24. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — to put up with
  2. mouse — for a computer
  3. bank — for money
  4. can — to be able to
  5. wake — a trail
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. can — a tin
  8. wave — a sudden rise
  9. season — of the year
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. wake — to stop sleeping
  12. can — a tin
  13. wave — of the sea
  14. bear — the animal
  15. season — to add flavour
  16. bank — of a river
  17. wake — before a funeral
  18. bear — the animal
  19. track — a path
  20. track — to keep track
  21. season — in sport
  22. bank — for money
  23. track — a song
  24. wave — with your hand

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