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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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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: swing · deal · bowl · roll · track · arm · bank · drill

  1. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  2. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  3. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  4. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  5. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  6. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  7. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  8. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  9. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  10. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  11. My father caught me by the ________________.
  12. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  13. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  14. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  15. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  16. We're on a ________________ here.
  17. David sat on the ________________.
  18. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  19. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  20. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  21. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  22. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  23. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  24. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. track — a song
  2. bowl — a football final
  3. drill — army training
  4. roll — a list
  5. drill — a practice
  6. deal — a big deal
  7. drill — the tool
  8. track — a path
  9. deal — to handle
  10. bank — for money
  11. arm — part of the body
  12. bowl — a dish
  13. bank — for money
  14. arm — a part of something
  15. track — to keep track
  16. roll — on a roll
  17. swing — to play on
  18. bank — of a river
  19. bowl — to roll
  20. arm — part of the body
  21. deal — an agreement
  22. swing — in golf
  23. swing — music
  24. roll — a cake

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