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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. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  2. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  3. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  4. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  5. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  6. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  7. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  8. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  9. Have you met the new head ________________?
  10. The ________________ took off on time.
  11. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  12. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  13. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  14. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  15. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  16. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  17. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  18. When will it ________________ you to start?
  19. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  20. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  21. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  22. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  23. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  24. This piece is in a major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — a division
  2. drill — army training
  3. drill — the tool
  4. bank — for money
  5. key — the most important part
  6. suit — in cards
  7. plane — a tool
  8. wax — for sculpting
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. plane — an aircraft
  11. bank — for money
  12. wax — to grow
  13. branch — of a tree
  14. key — for a lock
  15. coach — pulled by horses
  16. branch — of a bank
  17. bank — of a river
  18. suit — to fit
  19. wax — in the ear
  20. plane — in geometry
  21. suit — clothes
  22. drill — a practice
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. key — in music

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