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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: can · wave · foot · lean · branch · bank · ball · deal

  1. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  2. The King held a masked ________________.
  3. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  4. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  5. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  6. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  10. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  11. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  12. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  13. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  14. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  15. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  16. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  17. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  18. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  19. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  20. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  21. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  22. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a round shape
  2. ball — a dance
  3. deal — an agreement
  4. foot — a measure
  5. lean — thin
  6. foot — part of the body
  7. can — a tin
  8. can — to be able to
  9. deal — a big deal
  10. lean — to bend
  11. wave — with your hand
  12. wave — of the sea
  13. lean — to rest against
  14. branch — of a tree
  15. deal — to handle
  16. branch — a division
  17. bank — of a river
  18. wave — a sudden rise
  19. bank — for money
  20. bank — for money
  21. ball — a great time
  22. branch — of a bank
  23. can — a tin
  24. foot — the bottom

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