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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: bank · toast · foot · band · club · arm · key · can

  1. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  2. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  3. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  6. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  7. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  8. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  9. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  10. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  11. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  12. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. My father caught me by the ________________.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  17. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  18. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  19. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  22. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  23. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  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. arm — a part of something
  2. band — a ring
  3. band — a rubber band
  4. key — in music
  5. toast — a drink to someone
  6. bank — for money
  7. arm — part of the body
  8. key — the most important part
  9. foot — a measure
  10. club — a group
  11. toast — the most admired
  12. band — a music group
  13. can — a tin
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. can — a tin
  16. toast — bread
  17. bank — for money
  18. foot — part of the body
  19. key — for a lock
  20. can — to be able to
  21. club — for golf
  22. club — for dancing
  23. bank — of a river
  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