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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. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  2. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  3. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  4. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  5. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  6. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  7. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  10. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  11. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  12. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  13. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  14. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  17. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  18. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  19. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  20. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. wax — for sculpting
  3. hide — to keep secret
  4. bank — of a river
  5. rock — to move gently
  6. jam — a tight spot
  7. wax — in the ear
  8. rock — a stone
  9. wax — to grow
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. wound — an injury
  12. wound — an injury
  13. jam — to spread on bread
  14. bass — low music
  15. can — to be able to
  16. bank — for money
  17. jam — in traffic
  18. bass — the fish
  19. wound — past of 'wind'
  20. bank — for money
  21. rock — music
  22. bass — the instrument
  23. can — a tin
  24. hide — animal skin

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