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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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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. He works in a ________________ mill.
  2. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  5. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  6. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  7. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  8. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  9. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  10. I can't ________________ this cold.
  11. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  12. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  13. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  14. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  15. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  16. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  17. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  18. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  19. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  20. She's very handy with a ________________.
  21. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  22. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  23. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  24. The moon will ________________ and wane.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. field — for sport
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. branch — of a tree
  5. wax — for sculpting
  6. wax — in the ear
  7. branch — of a bank
  8. stand — for spectators
  9. field — a subject
  10. stand — to bear
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. stand — on your feet
  13. branch — a division
  14. mouse — for a computer
  15. staff — employees
  16. leaves — to go away
  17. staff — a stick
  18. saw — past of 'see'
  19. leaves — lets stay
  20. saw — the tool
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. field — farmland
  23. staff — employees
  24. wax — to grow

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