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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. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  2. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  3. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  4. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  5. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  6. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  7. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  8. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  9. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  10. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  11. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  12. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  13. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  14. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  15. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  16. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  17. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  18. Did you ________________ the meat?
  19. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  20. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  21. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  22. Have you met the new head ________________?
  23. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  24. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. lie — to recline
  2. bank — for money
  3. trunk — of an elephant
  4. trunk — of a tree
  5. bear — the animal
  6. bank — for money
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. wax — for sculpting
  9. trunk — of a car
  10. wax — in the ear
  11. wax — to grow
  12. bear — to put up with
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. season — of the year
  15. bank — of a river
  16. bear — the animal
  17. foot — the bottom
  18. season — to add flavour
  19. foot — a measure
  20. coach — pulled by horses
  21. foot — part of the body
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. season — in sport
  24. lie — an untruth

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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