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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: rush · calf · mouse · firm · ground · saw · tube · bank

  1. He works in a ________________ mill.
  2. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  3. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  4. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  5. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  6. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  7. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  8. I'll be taking the ________________.
  9. There's no middle ________________.
  10. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  11. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  12. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  13. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. She's very handy with a ________________.
  16. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  17. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  18. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  19. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  20. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  21. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  22. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  23. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  24. That must've been a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. calf — of the leg
  3. firm — decided
  4. firm — a company
  5. ground — the earth
  6. mouse — for a computer
  7. bank — for money
  8. tube — the underground
  9. ground — a position
  10. firm — steady
  11. ground — crushed
  12. tube — in a tire
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. saw — the tool
  16. rush — hurry
  17. bank — of a river
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. tube — a container
  22. bank — for money
  23. saw — past of 'see'
  24. rush — a thrill

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