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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 116 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. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  2. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  3. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  4. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  5. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  6. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  7. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  8. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  9. That must've been a ________________.
  10. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  11. The ________________ went through the wall.
  12. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  13. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  14. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  15. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  16. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  17. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  18. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  19. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  20. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  21. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  22. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  23. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  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. wax — in the ear
  2. stick — to attach or keep to
  3. pound — to hit hard
  4. prune — to trim
  5. prune — to trim
  6. root — of a plant
  7. rush — to hurry
  8. bank — of a river
  9. rush — a thrill
  10. bank — for money
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. root — the cause
  13. stick — a piece of wood
  14. wax — for sculpting
  15. wax — to grow
  16. pound — a weight
  17. nail — on a finger
  18. pound — for dogs
  19. rush — hurry
  20. root — of a word
  21. prune — the fruit
  22. stick — a piece of wood
  23. nail — for a hammer
  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