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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. My mare is ________________ in color.
  2. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  3. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  4. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  5. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  6. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  7. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  8. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  9. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  10. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  11. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  12. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  13. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  14. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  15. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  16. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  17. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  18. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  19. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  20. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  21. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  22. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  23. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  24. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — a horse colour
  2. bank — for money
  3. board — a flat piece
  4. board — a committee
  5. wax — to grow
  6. chip — for betting
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. track — a path
  9. stem — a stem cell
  10. stem — of a plant
  11. bank — of a river
  12. hide — animal skin
  13. chip — to eat
  14. wax — for sculpting
  15. track — a song
  16. stem — to come from
  17. track — to keep track
  18. chip — in a computer
  19. board — to get on
  20. wax — in the ear
  21. bay — a part of the sea
  22. bank — for money
  23. hide — to keep secret
  24. bay — to keep at bay

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