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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. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  2. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  3. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  4. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  5. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  6. When will it ________________ you to start?
  7. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  8. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  9. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  10. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  11. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  12. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  13. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  14. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  15. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  16. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  17. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  18. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  19. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  20. Have you found your soul ________________?
  21. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  22. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  23. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  24. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — in the ear
  2. racket — for tennis
  3. foot — a measure
  4. wax — to grow
  5. racket — for tennis
  6. suit — to fit
  7. bank — of a river
  8. bank — for money
  9. wax — for sculpting
  10. suit — clothes
  11. suit — in cards
  12. toast — a drink to someone
  13. bear — the animal
  14. mate — to breed
  15. toast — the most admired
  16. foot — the bottom
  17. bear — the animal
  18. mate — a friend
  19. bear — to put up with
  20. mate — a partner
  21. foot — part of the body
  22. toast — bread
  23. racket — a loud noise
  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