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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. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  2. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  3. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  4. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  5. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  6. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  7. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  8. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  9. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  12. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  13. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  14. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  15. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  16. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  17. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  18. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  19. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  20. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  21. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  22. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  23. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  24. Biology is a ________________ of science.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — to grow
  2. bore — to drill
  3. hand — in cards
  4. bank — for money
  5. staff — employees
  6. bore — gave birth
  7. hand — part of the body
  8. hand — help
  9. deal — a big deal
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. bank — for money
  12. wax — in the ear
  13. staff — a stick
  14. branch — of a tree
  15. leaves — of a tree
  16. deal — to handle
  17. bank — of a river
  18. bore — to tire
  19. leaves — lets stay
  20. branch — of a bank
  21. staff — employees
  22. deal — an agreement
  23. wax — for sculpting
  24. branch — a division

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