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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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Word bank
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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 fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  4. Did you ________________ the meat?
  5. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  6. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  7. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  8. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  9. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  12. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  15. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  16. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  17. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  18. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  19. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  20. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  21. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  22. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  23. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  24. Biology is a ________________ of science.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — the fish
  2. can — to be able to
  3. perch — for a bird
  4. season — to add flavour
  5. branch — of a bank
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. racket — for tennis
  8. season — of the year
  9. racket — a loud noise
  10. can — a tin
  11. wax — for sculpting
  12. branch — of a tree
  13. can — a tin
  14. season — in sport
  15. bass — low music
  16. perch — the fish
  17. wax — in the ear
  18. wax — to grow
  19. object — a thing
  20. object — an aim
  21. bass — the instrument
  22. racket — for tennis
  23. object — to protest
  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