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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. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  4. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  5. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  6. Where did you ________________ them?
  7. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  8. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  9. That was ________________ to happen.
  10. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  16. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  17. The ________________ market has crashed.
  18. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  19. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  20. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  21. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  22. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  23. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — for sculpting
  2. bound — tied together
  3. branch — a division
  4. fall — to drop
  5. wax — to grow
  6. mug — to rob
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. branch — of a bank
  9. bound — certain
  10. branch — of a tree
  11. can — to be able to
  12. can — a tin
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. can — a tin
  15. stock — a soup base
  16. wax — in the ear
  17. stock — shares
  18. bound — obliged
  19. stock — goods
  20. mug — a cup
  21. calf — of the leg
  22. fall — the season
  23. fall — to drop
  24. mug — a face

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