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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: bank · wind · vault · rock · suit · arm · can · hand

  1. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  5. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  6. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  7. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  8. My father caught me by the ________________.
  9. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  10. When will it ________________ you to start?
  11. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  12. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  13. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  14. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  15. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  18. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  19. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  20. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  21. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  22. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  23. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  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. suit — clothes
  2. can — a tin
  3. can — a tin
  4. vault — in gymnastics
  5. arm — a part of something
  6. hand — part of the body
  7. wind — moving air
  8. arm — part of the body
  9. bank — for money
  10. suit — to fit
  11. rock — music
  12. vault — an arched ceiling
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. bank — for money
  15. wind — to turn a key
  16. can — to be able to
  17. hand — help
  18. rock — to move gently
  19. suit — in cards
  20. vault — a safe
  21. wind — moving air
  22. rock — a stone
  23. hand — in cards
  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