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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. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  3. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  4. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  5. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  6. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  7. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  8. That was a fun ________________.
  9. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  10. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  11. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  12. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  13. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  14. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  15. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  16. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  17. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. My mare is ________________ in color.
  20. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  21. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  22. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  23. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  24. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. mark — a grade
  3. drill — a practice
  4. bank — for money
  5. mark — a trace
  6. bay — to keep at bay
  7. wax — in the ear
  8. game — a match
  9. mark — to pay attention
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. calf — of the leg
  12. bank — of a river
  13. bay — a part of the sea
  14. drill — army training
  15. current — electric
  16. game — wild animals
  17. wax — for sculpting
  18. current — of water
  19. bay — a horse colour
  20. wax — to grow
  21. game — a kind of play
  22. current — happening now
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. drill — the tool

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