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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: can · squash · bank · band · bore · calf · hand · fine

  1. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  2. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  3. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  4. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  5. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  6. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  7. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  8. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  9. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  10. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  11. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  12. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  13. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  16. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  17. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  18. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  23. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  24. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — of the leg
  2. bore — to tire
  3. bank — for money
  4. bore — gave birth
  5. band — a ring
  6. bank — of a river
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. fine — high quality
  9. bore — to drill
  10. band — a rubber band
  11. band — a music group
  12. hand — in cards
  13. hand — help
  14. can — a tin
  15. squash — the sport
  16. squash — the vegetable
  17. bank — for money
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. can — a tin
  20. fine — a penalty
  21. can — to be able to
  22. fine — all right
  23. hand — part of the body
  24. squash — to crush

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