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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 do you think of the new ________________?
  2. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  3. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  4. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  5. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  6. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  7. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  10. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  11. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  12. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  13. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  14. That was a fun ________________.
  15. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. She's very handy with a ________________.
  19. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  20. He works in a ________________ mill.
  21. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  22. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  23. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  24. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. wax — in the ear
  3. bank — for money
  4. game — a kind of play
  5. firm — decided
  6. cabinet — a cupboard
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. can — to be able to
  9. firm — a company
  10. saw — past of 'see'
  11. game — wild animals
  12. patient — calm and waiting
  13. wax — for sculpting
  14. game — a match
  15. patient — a sick person
  16. can — a tin
  17. can — a tin
  18. saw — the tool
  19. patient — a sick person
  20. saw — the tool
  21. bank — of a river
  22. wax — to grow
  23. firm — steady
  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