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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
468
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: hide · ball · plane · bank · dip · degree · nail · foot

  1. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  2. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  3. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  4. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  5. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  6. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  7. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  8. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  9. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  10. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  11. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  12. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  13. The ________________ went through the wall.
  14. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  15. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  16. The King held a masked ________________.
  17. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  18. The ________________ took off on time.
  19. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  20. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  21. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  22. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  23. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  24. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a great time
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. foot — the bottom
  4. dip — to dunk
  5. ball — a round shape
  6. bank — for money
  7. foot — a measure
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. plane — in geometry
  10. foot — part of the body
  11. bank — of a river
  12. hide — animal skin
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. bank — for money
  15. dip — to sink
  16. ball — a dance
  17. degree — temperature
  18. plane — an aircraft
  19. degree — an amount
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. dip — a sauce
  22. plane — a tool
  23. degree — from a university
  24. nail — on a finger

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