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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  2. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  3. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  4. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  5. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  6. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  7. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  8. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  9. The ________________ took off on time.
  10. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  11. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  12. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  13. What do you think of the new ________________?
  14. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  15. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  16. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  17. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  18. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  19. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  20. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  21. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  22. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  23. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  24. I don't want to ________________ the boat.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. pound — to hit hard
  3. hand — in cards
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. bank — for money
  6. pound — a weight
  7. pound — for dogs
  8. deal — a big deal
  9. plane — an aircraft
  10. plane — a tool
  11. rock — a stone
  12. deal — an agreement
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. rock — music
  15. bank — of a river
  16. hand — help
  17. mark — a grade
  18. plane — in geometry
  19. hand — part of the body
  20. mark — to pay attention
  21. mark — a trace
  22. cabinet — a cupboard
  23. deal — to handle
  24. rock — to move gently

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