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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.

Words on the sheet
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: bore · bass · cabinet · bank · saw · bowl · hand · snap

  1. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  3. What do you think of the new ________________?
  4. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  5. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  6. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  7. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  8. He works in a ________________ mill.
  9. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  10. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  11. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  12. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  13. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  14. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  15. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  16. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  17. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  18. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  19. She's very handy with a ________________.
  20. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  21. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  22. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  23. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  24. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. bass — low music
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. bowl — to roll
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. hand — help
  7. bank — for money
  8. saw — the tool
  9. bore — gave birth
  10. bowl — a football final
  11. hand — in cards
  12. snap — to snap out of it
  13. bank — for money
  14. bank — of a river
  15. bass — the instrument
  16. bowl — a dish
  17. bore — to tire
  18. snap — to speak sharply
  19. saw — the tool
  20. saw — past of 'see'
  21. bass — the fish
  22. snap — to click
  23. hand — part of the body
  24. bore — to drill

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