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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 120 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: bulb · plane · pitcher · cell · bank · calf · spell · board

  1. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  2. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  3. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  4. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  5. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  6. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  7. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  8. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  9. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  10. The ________________ took off on time.
  11. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  12. The light ________________ burned out.
  13. He was locked up in a ________________.
  14. I've got to change the light ________________.
  15. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  16. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  17. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  18. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  19. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  20. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  21. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  22. He is an ace ________________.
  23. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  24. How do you ________________ your surname?

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. cell — in biology
  3. board — to get on
  4. bank — of a river
  5. bank — for money
  6. spell — a short time
  7. calf — of the leg
  8. plane — in geometry
  9. board — a flat piece
  10. plane — an aircraft
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. bulb — for light
  13. cell — in a prison
  14. bulb — for light
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. plane — a tool
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. bulb — of a plant
  19. cell — a phone
  20. spell — magic
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. pitcher — in baseball
  23. board — a committee
  24. spell — letters

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