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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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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: band · bank · nail · object · plane · bear · calf · swing

  1. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  2. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  3. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  4. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  5. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  6. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  7. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  8. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  9. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  10. David sat on the ________________.
  11. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  12. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  13. The ________________ took off on time.
  14. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  15. The ________________ went through the wall.
  16. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  17. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  18. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  19. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  20. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  21. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  22. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  23. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  24. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. calf — of the leg
  3. bear — the animal
  4. band — a rubber band
  5. plane — a tool
  6. swing — in golf
  7. object — a thing
  8. band — a ring
  9. object — to protest
  10. swing — to play on
  11. plane — in geometry
  12. bear — the animal
  13. plane — an aircraft
  14. object — an aim
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. nail — on a finger
  18. bear — to put up with
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. swing — music
  21. band — a music group
  22. bank — for money
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. bank — of a river

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