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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 120 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. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  7. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  10. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  13. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  14. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  15. I'll be taking the ________________.
  16. The King held a masked ________________.
  17. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  18. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  19. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  20. I can't ________________ this cold.
  21. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  22. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  23. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  24. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. bark — of a tree
  4. can — a tin
  5. can — a tin
  6. bark — to shout
  7. stand — on your feet
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. wax — for sculpting
  10. wax — in the ear
  11. can — to be able to
  12. leaves — of a tree
  13. tube — a container
  14. bank — of a river
  15. tube — the underground
  16. ball — a dance
  17. bark — a dog's sound
  18. ball — a round shape
  19. bank — for money
  20. stand — to bear
  21. tube — in a tire
  22. wax — to grow
  23. ball — a great time
  24. bank — for money

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