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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: court · plane · foot · wind · bank · bore · band · can

  1. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  2. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  3. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  4. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  5. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  6. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  7. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  8. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  9. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  12. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  13. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  14. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. The ball is in your ________________.
  17. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  18. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  19. The ________________ took off on time.
  20. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  23. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  24. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. band — a music group
  2. bank — for money
  3. plane — a tool
  4. foot — part of the body
  5. bank — of a river
  6. bore — gave birth
  7. band — a rubber band
  8. wind — to turn a key
  9. wind — moving air
  10. can — a tin
  11. court — of law
  12. plane — in geometry
  13. foot — the bottom
  14. bore — to tire
  15. can — to be able to
  16. court — for sport
  17. foot — a measure
  18. wind — moving air
  19. plane — an aircraft
  20. court — of a king
  21. can — a tin
  22. bank — for money
  23. bore — to drill
  24. band — a ring

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