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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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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: bark · can · bank · calf · pitcher · spring · bear · bowl

  1. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  2. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  3. He is an ace ________________.
  4. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  5. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  6. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  7. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  8. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  9. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  10. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  11. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  12. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  17. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  18. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  19. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  20. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  23. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  24. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. spring — of water
  3. pitcher — in baseball
  4. bank — of a river
  5. bear — to put up with
  6. bark — a dog's sound
  7. bear — the animal
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. bank — for money
  10. bank — for money
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. can — a tin
  14. bowl — a dish
  15. can — a tin
  16. calf — of the leg
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. bark — to shout
  19. spring — the season
  20. spring — a coil
  21. can — to be able to
  22. bowl — a football final
  23. bowl — to roll
  24. bark — of a tree

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