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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: bank · mouse · ball · arm · stem · cell · craft · stand

  1. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  2. The King held a masked ________________.
  3. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  4. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  5. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  6. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  7. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  8. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  9. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  10. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  11. I can't ________________ this cold.
  12. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  13. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  14. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  15. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  16. He was locked up in a ________________.
  17. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  18. My father caught me by the ________________.
  19. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  20. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  21. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  22. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  23. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  24. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. ball — a dance
  3. bank — of a river
  4. cell — in biology
  5. craft — a handicraft
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. stem — to come from
  8. bank — for money
  9. ball — a round shape
  10. stem — a stem cell
  11. stand — to bear
  12. craft — boats
  13. arm — a part of something
  14. mouse — for a computer
  15. stem — of a plant
  16. cell — in a prison
  17. stand — for spectators
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. stand — on your feet
  20. cell — a phone
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. craft — a skill
  24. ball — a great time

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