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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. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  2. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  3. The King held a masked ________________.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  6. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  7. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  8. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  9. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. That was ________________ to happen.
  12. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  13. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  14. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  15. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  18. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  19. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  20. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  21. I'll be taking the ________________.
  22. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  23. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  24. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — a division
  2. tube — a container
  3. ball — a dance
  4. can — to be able to
  5. wax — for sculpting
  6. current — of water
  7. branch — of a tree
  8. current — happening now
  9. branch — of a bank
  10. can — a tin
  11. bound — certain
  12. wax — to grow
  13. vault — a safe
  14. vault — in gymnastics
  15. bound — tied together
  16. can — a tin
  17. current — electric
  18. tube — in a tire
  19. bound — obliged
  20. ball — a round shape
  21. tube — the underground
  22. wax — in the ear
  23. ball — a great time
  24. vault — an arched ceiling

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