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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
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: stick · bass · plane · calf · saw · nail · pass · bank

  1. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  2. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  3. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  4. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  5. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  6. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  7. The ________________ took off on time.
  8. She's very handy with a ________________.
  9. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  10. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  11. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  12. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  13. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  14. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  15. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  16. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  17. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  18. He works in a ________________ mill.
  19. The ________________ went through the wall.
  20. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  21. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  22. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  23. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  24. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — on a finger
  2. bass — the instrument
  3. plane — a tool
  4. saw — past of 'see'
  5. bank — for money
  6. bank — of a river
  7. plane — an aircraft
  8. saw — the tool
  9. pass — to spend time
  10. bank — for money
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. stick — a piece of wood
  13. stick — to attach or keep to
  14. bass — the fish
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. stick — a piece of wood
  17. pass — to succeed
  18. saw — the tool
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. calf — of the leg
  21. pass — a permit
  22. bass — low music
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. plane — in geometry

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