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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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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: key · pound · saw · bank · file · ball · wave · toast

  1. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  2. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  3. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  4. He works in a ________________ mill.
  5. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  6. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  7. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  8. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  9. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  10. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  11. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  12. She's very handy with a ________________.
  13. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  14. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  15. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  16. The King held a masked ________________.
  17. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  18. This piece is in a major ________________.
  19. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  20. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  21. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  22. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  23. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  24. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. ball — a round shape
  3. saw — past of 'see'
  4. saw — the tool
  5. wave — with your hand
  6. file — a line of people
  7. ball — a great time
  8. toast — the most admired
  9. file — a tool
  10. file — a document
  11. pound — for dogs
  12. saw — the tool
  13. key — for a lock
  14. toast — bread
  15. bank — for money
  16. ball — a dance
  17. wave — of the sea
  18. key — in music
  19. wave — a sudden rise
  20. toast — a drink to someone
  21. pound — a weight
  22. pound — to hit hard
  23. key — the most important part
  24. bank — of a river

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