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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.

Make a worksheet

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: can · wave · mine · bear · plane · rash · deal · bank

  1. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  2. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  3. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  4. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  5. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  6. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  7. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  8. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  9. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  10. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  11. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  12. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  13. Don't do anything ________________.
  14. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  17. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  21. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  22. The ________________ took off on time.
  23. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  24. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mine — for digging
  2. rash — on the skin
  3. bear — the animal
  4. deal — to handle
  5. mine — belonging to me
  6. deal — an agreement
  7. bank — for money
  8. plane — a tool
  9. rash — a series
  10. wave — a sudden rise
  11. wave — with your hand
  12. mine — an explosive
  13. rash — hasty
  14. bank — for money
  15. can — to be able to
  16. plane — in geometry
  17. deal — a big deal
  18. can — a tin
  19. can — a tin
  20. bear — to put up with
  21. bank — of a river
  22. plane — an aircraft
  23. bear — the animal
  24. wave — of the sea

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