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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: roll · racket · bowl · wave · last · bank · current · bass

  1. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  2. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  3. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  4. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  5. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  6. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  7. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  8. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  9. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  10. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  11. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  12. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  15. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  16. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  17. False peace will not ________________.
  18. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  19. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  20. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  21. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  22. We're on a ________________ here.
  23. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  24. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.

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

Answer key

  1. racket — for tennis
  2. bank — for money
  3. roll — a cake
  4. wave — a sudden rise
  5. bass — the fish
  6. bowl — a football final
  7. wave — of the sea
  8. bass — the instrument
  9. racket — a loud noise
  10. current — electric
  11. bass — low music
  12. current — of water
  13. current — happening now
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. wave — with your hand
  16. last — finally
  17. last — to go on
  18. bowl — a dish
  19. roll — a list
  20. bank — for money
  21. bank — of a river
  22. roll — on a roll
  23. last — final
  24. bowl — to roll

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