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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: club · mug · dip · can · band · foot · roll · plane

  1. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  2. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  3. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  4. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  5. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  6. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  7. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  10. We're on a ________________ here.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  14. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  15. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  16. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  17. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  18. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  19. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  20. Where did you ________________ them?
  21. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  22. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  23. The ________________ took off on time.
  24. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. club — a group
  2. band — a rubber band
  3. foot — the bottom
  4. roll — a list
  5. dip — to sink
  6. foot — part of the body
  7. plane — a tool
  8. can — a tin
  9. plane — in geometry
  10. roll — on a roll
  11. can — a tin
  12. can — to be able to
  13. band — a music group
  14. club — for dancing
  15. band — a ring
  16. dip — to dunk
  17. club — for golf
  18. mug — a face
  19. dip — a sauce
  20. mug — to rob
  21. foot — a measure
  22. mug — a cup
  23. plane — an aircraft
  24. roll — a cake

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