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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: deal · can · tube · foot · bank · bass · rock · season

  1. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  2. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  3. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  4. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  7. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  8. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  9. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  12. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  13. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  14. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  15. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  16. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  17. I'll be taking the ________________.
  18. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  19. Did you ________________ the meat?
  20. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  21. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  22. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — an agreement
  2. season — in sport
  3. deal — to handle
  4. season — of the year
  5. can — a tin
  6. foot — a measure
  7. bass — the instrument
  8. tube — in a tire
  9. rock — music
  10. can — to be able to
  11. bank — for money
  12. deal — a big deal
  13. bass — low music
  14. rock — a stone
  15. tube — a container
  16. foot — part of the body
  17. tube — the underground
  18. rock — to move gently
  19. season — to add flavour
  20. foot — the bottom
  21. bass — the fish
  22. bank — for money
  23. can — a tin
  24. bank — of a river

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