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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.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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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. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. She's very handy with a ________________.
  3. He works in a ________________ mill.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  6. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  7. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  8. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  9. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  10. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  11. When was this ________________ built?
  12. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  13. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  14. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  17. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  18. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  19. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  20. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  21. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  22. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  23. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  24. The moon will ________________ and wane.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. saw — the tool
  3. saw — the tool
  4. can — a tin
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. mine — an explosive
  8. fine — all right
  9. branch — of a bank
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. fine — high quality
  13. branch — a division
  14. wax — in the ear
  15. can — to be able to
  16. fine — a penalty
  17. saw — past of 'see'
  18. hide — animal skin
  19. mine — for digging
  20. temple — side of the head
  21. wax — for sculpting
  22. branch — of a tree
  23. mine — belonging to me
  24. wax — to grow

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