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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 120 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. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  2. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  3. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  4. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  5. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  6. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  7. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  12. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  13. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  16. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  17. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  18. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  19. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  20. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  21. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  22. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  23. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  24. Did you ________________ the button?

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a bank
  2. wax — to grow
  3. pass — to spend time
  4. cue — a signal
  5. wax — in the ear
  6. craft — a skill
  7. branch — of a tree
  8. can — a tin
  9. cue — a hint
  10. can — a tin
  11. wax — for sculpting
  12. rock — music
  13. branch — a division
  14. can — to be able to
  15. press — a publisher
  16. cue — for pool
  17. craft — a handicraft
  18. pass — to succeed
  19. craft — boats
  20. press — newspapers
  21. pass — a permit
  22. rock — to move gently
  23. rock — a stone
  24. press — to push

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