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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: plane · jam · board · pop · ball · dip · bank · club

  1. You don't need to ________________ round.
  2. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  3. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  4. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  5. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  6. The King held a masked ________________.
  7. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  8. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  9. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  10. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  11. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  12. The ________________ took off on time.
  13. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  14. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  15. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  16. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  17. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  18. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  19. We're almost out of ________________.
  20. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  21. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  22. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  23. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  24. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — to visit
  2. bank — of a river
  3. jam — in traffic
  4. board — a flat piece
  5. ball — a round shape
  6. ball — a dance
  7. dip — to sink
  8. pop — music
  9. ball — a great time
  10. club — a group
  11. club — for golf
  12. plane — an aircraft
  13. board — a committee
  14. club — for dancing
  15. bank — for money
  16. dip — to dunk
  17. jam — to spread on bread
  18. plane — in geometry
  19. pop — soda
  20. bank — for money
  21. jam — a tight spot
  22. board — to get on
  23. plane — a tool
  24. dip — a sauce

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