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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 · bark · toast · season · pit · can · ball · root

  1. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  2. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  5. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  6. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  7. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  10. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  11. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  12. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  13. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  14. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  15. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  16. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  17. Did you ________________ the meat?
  18. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  19. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  20. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  21. The King held a masked ________________.
  22. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  23. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. toast — the most admired
  3. can — a tin
  4. bark — to shout
  5. bank — of a river
  6. ball — a round shape
  7. bark — a dog's sound
  8. can — to be able to
  9. toast — bread
  10. season — of the year
  11. pit — a fruit stone
  12. season — in sport
  13. root — of a word
  14. pit — in a race
  15. toast — a drink to someone
  16. pit — a hole
  17. season — to add flavour
  18. root — the cause
  19. root — of a plant
  20. bark — of a tree
  21. ball — a dance
  22. bank — for money
  23. ball — a great time
  24. can — a tin

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