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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  2. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  3. The ball is in your ________________.
  4. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  5. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  6. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  9. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  10. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  11. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. We're almost out of ________________.
  14. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  15. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  16. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  17. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  18. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  19. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  20. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  23. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  24. You don't need to ________________ round.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — for sculpting
  2. branch — of a tree
  3. court — for sport
  4. wax — to grow
  5. branch — of a bank
  6. wax — in the ear
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. court — of a king
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. bowl — a dish
  11. court — of law
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. pop — soda
  14. toast — a drink to someone
  15. toast — bread
  16. ruler — a monarch
  17. bowl — a football final
  18. branch — a division
  19. pop — music
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. toast — the most admired
  23. bowl — to roll
  24. pop — to visit

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