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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: bank · patient · can · pop · bear · deal · wound · wave

  1. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  2. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  3. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  4. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  5. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  6. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  7. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  8. We're almost out of ________________.
  9. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  10. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  11. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  12. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  13. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  16. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  17. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  18. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. You don't need to ________________ round.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  23. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  24. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — to handle
  2. wound — an injury
  3. wave — of the sea
  4. patient — a sick person
  5. bear — the animal
  6. bank — for money
  7. wound — an injury
  8. pop — soda
  9. patient — a sick person
  10. deal — an agreement
  11. wound — past of 'wind'
  12. pop — music
  13. bank — for money
  14. can — to be able to
  15. wave — a sudden rise
  16. bear — the animal
  17. bear — to put up with
  18. patient — calm and waiting
  19. can — a tin
  20. pop — to visit
  21. can — a tin
  22. bank — of a river
  23. wave — with your hand
  24. deal — a big deal

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