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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: bear · patient · bank · calf · pitcher · trunk · can · plane

  1. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  2. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  3. The ________________ took off on time.
  4. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  5. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  6. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  7. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  8. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  9. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  10. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  11. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  15. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  16. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  17. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  18. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  21. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  22. He is an ace ________________.
  23. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  24. Fill up this ________________ with water.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — to put up with
  2. bank — of a river
  3. plane — an aircraft
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. trunk — of an elephant
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. bear — the animal
  8. bank — for money
  9. bear — the animal
  10. trunk — of a tree
  11. calf — of the leg
  12. can — a tin
  13. can — a tin
  14. plane — a tool
  15. patient — calm and waiting
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. plane — in geometry
  18. patient — a sick person
  19. can — to be able to
  20. patient — a sick person
  21. trunk — of a car
  22. pitcher — in baseball
  23. bank — for money
  24. pitcher — a jug

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