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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: racket · last · nail · wave · chest · tube · mark · bank

  1. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  2. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  3. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  4. The ________________ went through the wall.
  5. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  8. False peace will not ________________.
  9. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  10. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  11. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  12. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  13. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  14. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  15. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  16. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  17. I'll be taking the ________________.
  18. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  19. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  20. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  21. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  22. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  23. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  24. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.

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

Answer key

  1. chest — of your body
  2. last — finally
  3. tube — a container
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. wave — a sudden rise
  6. mark — a grade
  7. tube — in a tire
  8. last — to go on
  9. wave — with your hand
  10. last — final
  11. bank — for money
  12. chest — a box
  13. nail — on a finger
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. chest — of your body
  16. bank — of a river
  17. tube — the underground
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. racket — for tennis
  20. mark — a trace
  21. racket — a loud noise
  22. wave — of the sea
  23. mark — to pay attention
  24. bank — for money

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