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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. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  2. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  3. The ________________ took off on time.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. We're almost out of ________________.
  6. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  7. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  8. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  9. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  10. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  11. I've got to change the light ________________.
  12. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  13. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  14. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. You don't need to ________________ round.
  18. The light ________________ burned out.
  19. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  20. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  21. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  22. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  23. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  24. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. pop — music
  3. plane — an aircraft
  4. can — to be able to
  5. pop — soda
  6. bank — for money
  7. calf — of the leg
  8. bank — of a river
  9. present — there
  10. wax — for sculpting
  11. bulb — for light
  12. present — a gift
  13. wax — to grow
  14. wax — in the ear
  15. can — a tin
  16. can — a tin
  17. pop — to visit
  18. bulb — for light
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. present — the time now
  21. bulb — of a plant
  22. plane — in geometry
  23. plane — a tool
  24. calf — a young animal

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