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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: plane · bass · branch · toast · wave · hand · bound · bear

  1. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  2. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  3. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  4. That was ________________ to happen.
  5. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  6. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  7. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  8. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  9. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  10. The ________________ took off on time.
  11. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  12. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  13. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  14. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  15. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  16. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  17. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  18. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  19. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  20. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  21. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  22. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  23. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  24. I got dealt a bad ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — to put up with
  2. plane — a tool
  3. wave — with your hand
  4. bound — certain
  5. hand — part of the body
  6. bass — the fish
  7. bear — the animal
  8. plane — in geometry
  9. bass — the instrument
  10. plane — an aircraft
  11. wave — of the sea
  12. bass — low music
  13. bound — tied together
  14. hand — help
  15. toast — the most admired
  16. branch — of a bank
  17. branch — a division
  18. bound — obliged
  19. wave — a sudden rise
  20. toast — bread
  21. bear — the animal
  22. branch — of a tree
  23. toast — a drink to someone
  24. hand — in cards

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