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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. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  3. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  4. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  5. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  6. My mare is ________________ in color.
  7. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  8. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  9. He is an ace ________________.
  10. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  11. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  12. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  13. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  14. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  15. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  16. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  17. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  18. Have you met the new head ________________?
  19. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  20. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  21. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  22. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  23. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  24. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — to grow
  2. bay — to keep at bay
  3. bore — to drill
  4. wind — moving air
  5. bank — for money
  6. bay — a horse colour
  7. wax — for sculpting
  8. bank — for money
  9. pitcher — in baseball
  10. bay — a part of the sea
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. bore — to tire
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. bank — of a river
  15. wind — moving air
  16. fine — all right
  17. coach — pulled by horses
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. wax — in the ear
  20. bore — gave birth
  21. fine — high quality
  22. wind — to turn a key
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. fine — a penalty

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