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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: arm · object · mug · fan · ball · jam · bark · bank

  1. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  2. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  3. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  4. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  5. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  6. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  7. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  8. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  9. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  10. My father caught me by the ________________.
  11. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  12. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  13. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  14. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  15. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  16. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  17. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  18. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  19. The King held a masked ________________.
  20. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  21. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  22. Where did you ________________ them?
  23. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  24. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.

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

Answer key

  1. bark — of a tree
  2. jam — a tight spot
  3. ball — a great time
  4. object — an aim
  5. mug — a cup
  6. ball — a round shape
  7. object — to protest
  8. bank — for money
  9. object — a thing
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. arm — part of the body
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. jam — in traffic
  14. mug — a face
  15. bank — for money
  16. arm — a part of something
  17. jam — to spread on bread
  18. bark — a dog's sound
  19. ball — a dance
  20. bank — of a river
  21. fan — to cool the air
  22. mug — to rob
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. bark — to shout

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