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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: last · tube · stand · can · bulb · rest · bank · ball

  1. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  2. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. The King held a masked ________________.
  5. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  6. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  9. I'll be taking the ________________.
  10. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  11. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  12. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  13. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  14. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  15. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  16. The light ________________ burned out.
  17. I've got to change the light ________________.
  18. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  19. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  22. False peace will not ________________.
  23. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  24. I can't ________________ this cold.

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

Answer key

  1. last — finally
  2. stand — on your feet
  3. can — a tin
  4. ball — a dance
  5. bank — of a river
  6. rest — a break
  7. can — a tin
  8. tube — in a tire
  9. tube — the underground
  10. last — final
  11. tube — a container
  12. ball — a great time
  13. bank — for money
  14. rest — what's left
  15. rest — what's left
  16. bulb — for light
  17. bulb — for light
  18. stand — for spectators
  19. ball — a round shape
  20. can — to be able to
  21. bulb — of a plant
  22. last — to go on
  23. bank — for money
  24. stand — to bear

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