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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: can · ball · file · bank · plane · bowl · coach · stock

  1. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  2. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  3. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  4. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  5. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  6. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  7. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  8. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  9. The ________________ market has crashed.
  10. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  11. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  12. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  13. The King held a masked ________________.
  14. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  15. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  19. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  20. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  21. Have you met the new head ________________?
  22. The ________________ took off on time.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.

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

Answer key

  1. bowl — to roll
  2. plane — in geometry
  3. bowl — a football final
  4. file — a line of people
  5. coach — pulled by horses
  6. ball — a great time
  7. ball — a round shape
  8. file — a document
  9. stock — shares
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. stock — goods
  12. stock — a soup base
  13. ball — a dance
  14. bank — of a river
  15. bank — for money
  16. can — a tin
  17. can — a tin
  18. file — a tool
  19. bank — for money
  20. bowl — a dish
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. plane — an aircraft
  23. can — to be able to
  24. plane — a tool

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