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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. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  2. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  3. The ________________ went through the wall.
  4. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  5. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  6. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  7. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  8. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  9. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  10. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  11. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  12. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  13. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  14. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  15. Did you ________________ the meat?
  16. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  17. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  18. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  19. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  20. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  21. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  22. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  23. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  24. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.

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

Answer key

  1. hide — animal skin
  2. club — for golf
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. bank — for money
  5. branch — of a bank
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. wax — for sculpting
  8. branch — of a tree
  9. vault — in gymnastics
  10. vault — an arched ceiling
  11. bank — for money
  12. season — in sport
  13. branch — a division
  14. vault — a safe
  15. season — to add flavour
  16. wax — to grow
  17. hide — to keep secret
  18. bank — of a river
  19. club — for dancing
  20. nail — on a finger
  21. season — of the year
  22. wax — in the ear
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. club — a group

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