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

  1. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  2. Don't do anything ________________.
  3. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  4. The ________________ took off on time.
  5. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  6. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  7. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  10. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  11. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  12. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  15. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  16. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  17. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  20. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bowl — to roll
  2. rash — hasty
  3. bank — for money
  4. plane — an aircraft
  5. rash — on the skin
  6. current — happening now
  7. rash — a series
  8. current — electric
  9. foot — part of the body
  10. plane — a tool
  11. bore — gave birth
  12. foot — the bottom
  13. current — of water
  14. bank — for money
  15. foot — a measure
  16. bowl — a football final
  17. bore — to tire
  18. can — a tin
  19. bore — to drill
  20. plane — in geometry
  21. can — a tin
  22. bowl — a dish
  23. can — to be able to
  24. bank — of a river

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