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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
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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: ball · staff · bass · pound · saw · bank · present · bear

  1. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  2. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  3. He works in a ________________ mill.
  4. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  5. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  6. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  7. The King held a masked ________________.
  8. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  9. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  10. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  11. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  12. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  13. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  14. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  15. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  16. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  17. She's very handy with a ________________.
  18. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  19. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  20. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  21. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  22. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  23. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  24. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — a stick
  2. bass — the instrument
  3. saw — the tool
  4. pound — to hit hard
  5. present — the time now
  6. bank — of a river
  7. ball — a dance
  8. bank — for money
  9. present — a gift
  10. ball — a round shape
  11. bass — low music
  12. bear — the animal
  13. ball — a great time
  14. bank — for money
  15. bass — the fish
  16. staff — employees
  17. saw — the tool
  18. pound — for dogs
  19. present — there
  20. bear — the animal
  21. pound — a weight
  22. saw — past of 'see'
  23. bear — to put up with
  24. staff — employees

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