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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: fan · ball · straw · pop · hand · lie · board · bank

  1. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  2. The King held a masked ________________.
  3. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  4. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  5. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  6. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  7. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  8. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  9. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  10. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  11. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  12. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  13. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  14. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  15. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  16. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  17. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  18. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  19. You don't need to ________________ round.
  20. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  21. We're almost out of ________________.
  22. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  23. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  24. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. ball — a dance
  3. board — to get on
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. fan — to cool the air
  6. hand — help
  7. bank — of a river
  8. board — a flat piece
  9. hand — in cards
  10. bank — for money
  11. lie — to recline
  12. straw — to clutch at straws
  13. ball — a round shape
  14. straw — a straw man
  15. bank — for money
  16. pop — music
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. ball — a great time
  19. pop — to visit
  20. straw — dry grass
  21. pop — soda
  22. board — a committee
  23. hand — part of the body
  24. fan — a supporter

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