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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. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  2. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  3. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  4. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  5. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  6. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  7. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  8. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  9. What do you think of the new ________________?
  10. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  11. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  12. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  13. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  14. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  15. The tickets are free of ________________.
  16. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  17. Did you ________________ the meat?
  18. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  19. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  20. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  21. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  22. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  23. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  24. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fork — in a road
  2. shower — rain
  3. wax — to grow
  4. shower — to wash
  5. wax — for sculpting
  6. bank — for money
  7. chest — of your body
  8. wax — in the ear
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. season — in sport
  12. charge — electricity
  13. shower — a meteor shower
  14. season — of the year
  15. charge — a price
  16. bank — for money
  17. season — to add flavour
  18. charge — in control
  19. cabinet — a cupboard
  20. chest — of your body
  21. fork — to eat with
  22. chest — a box
  23. fork — a garden tool
  24. bank — of a river

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