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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: drill · rash · mark · bank · pop · plane · bear · can

  1. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  2. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  3. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  4. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  5. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  9. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  10. You don't need to ________________ round.
  11. We're almost out of ________________.
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  14. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  15. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  16. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  17. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  18. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  19. The ________________ took off on time.
  20. Don't do anything ________________.
  21. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  22. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  23. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  24. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. rash — on the skin
  3. bear — to put up with
  4. rash — a series
  5. mark — to pay attention
  6. can — to be able to
  7. can — a tin
  8. bank — for money
  9. plane — in geometry
  10. pop — to visit
  11. pop — soda
  12. can — a tin
  13. drill — a practice
  14. bank — for money
  15. mark — a grade
  16. bank — of a river
  17. bear — the animal
  18. mark — a trace
  19. plane — an aircraft
  20. rash — hasty
  21. drill — army training
  22. pop — music
  23. drill — the tool
  24. bear — the animal

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