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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 116 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: hand · lie · tube · nail · bass · mark · perch · bank

  1. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  2. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  3. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  4. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  5. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  6. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  7. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  8. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  9. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  10. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  11. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  12. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  13. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  14. I'll be taking the ________________.
  15. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  16. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  17. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  18. The ________________ went through the wall.
  19. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  20. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  21. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  22. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  23. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  24. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.

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

Answer key

  1. hand — in cards
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. mark — a trace
  5. mark — to pay attention
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. bank — for money
  8. bank — of a river
  9. bank — for money
  10. mark — a grade
  11. bass — the fish
  12. tube — a container
  13. lie — to recline
  14. tube — the underground
  15. hand — part of the body
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. bass — the instrument
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. hand — help
  20. perch — for a bird
  21. nail — on a finger
  22. perch — the fish
  23. tube — in a tire
  24. bass — low music

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