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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: board · rush · bank · branch · hand · pass · bulb · plane

  1. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  3. I've got to change the light ________________.
  4. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  5. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  6. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  7. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  8. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  9. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  10. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  11. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  12. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  13. That must've been a ________________.
  14. The ________________ took off on time.
  15. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  16. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  21. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  24. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. hand — in cards
  3. bulb — for light
  4. bank — of a river
  5. rush — to hurry
  6. plane — a tool
  7. bank — for money
  8. branch — a division
  9. pass — to succeed
  10. hand — part of the body
  11. board — a flat piece
  12. branch — of a tree
  13. rush — a thrill
  14. plane — an aircraft
  15. branch — of a bank
  16. bank — for money
  17. bulb — for light
  18. pass — a permit
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. hand — help
  21. board — a committee
  22. rush — hurry
  23. board — to get on
  24. pass — to spend time

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