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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 120 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: row · patient · press · plane · racket · mark · bank · dip

  1. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  2. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  3. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  4. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  5. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  6. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  7. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  8. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  9. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  10. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  11. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  12. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  13. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  14. Did you ________________ the button?
  15. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  16. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  17. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  18. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  19. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  20. The ________________ took off on time.
  21. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  22. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  23. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  24. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a grade
  2. bank — of a river
  3. patient — a sick person
  4. press — a publisher
  5. patient — calm and waiting
  6. plane — in geometry
  7. press — newspapers
  8. plane — a tool
  9. racket — a loud noise
  10. mark — to pay attention
  11. row — a line
  12. dip — a sauce
  13. bank — for money
  14. press — to push
  15. row — to paddle
  16. racket — for tennis
  17. row — a quarrel
  18. dip — to dunk
  19. patient — a sick person
  20. plane — an aircraft
  21. racket — for tennis
  22. dip — to sink
  23. bank — for money
  24. mark — a trace

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