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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: fan · squash · staff · roll · mouse · bank · mark · arm

  1. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  2. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  3. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  4. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  5. We're on a ________________ here.
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  8. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  9. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  10. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  11. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  12. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  13. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  14. My father caught me by the ________________.
  15. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  16. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  17. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  18. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  19. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  20. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  21. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  24. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?

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

Answer key

  1. squash — to crush
  2. roll — a list
  3. staff — employees
  4. mouse — for a computer
  5. roll — on a roll
  6. mark — a grade
  7. staff — a stick
  8. arm — part of the body
  9. arm — a part of something
  10. bank — for money
  11. bank — for money
  12. mark — a trace
  13. fan — to cool the air
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. staff — employees
  17. squash — the sport
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. bank — of a river
  20. roll — a cake
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. squash — the vegetable
  24. fan — a supporter

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