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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: leaves · bank · bat · fan · deal · bear · bore · coach

  1. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  2. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  3. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  4. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  5. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  6. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  7. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  8. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  9. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  10. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  11. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  12. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  15. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  16. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  17. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  18. Have you met the new head ________________?
  19. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  20. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  21. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  22. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  23. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  24. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. bore — to drill
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. bear — the animal
  5. bat — for baseball
  6. fan — to cool the air
  7. bat — in an idiom
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. bore — gave birth
  10. bank — of a river
  11. bore — to tire
  12. deal — an agreement
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. bat — the animal
  15. bank — for money
  16. coach — pulled by horses
  17. bear — to put up with
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. deal — to handle
  20. leaves — lets stay
  21. leaves — to go away
  22. bear — the animal
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. deal — a big deal

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