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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.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: wax · lie · track · mark · stem · bank · mouse · mate

  1. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  2. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  3. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  4. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  5. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  6. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  7. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  8. Have you found your soul ________________?
  9. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  10. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  11. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  12. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  13. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  14. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  15. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  16. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  17. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  18. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  19. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  20. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  21. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  22. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  23. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  24. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — for a computer
  2. stem — a stem cell
  3. track — a path
  4. mark — a trace
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. track — to keep track
  8. mate — a partner
  9. track — a song
  10. stem — of a plant
  11. mark — to pay attention
  12. mate — to breed
  13. wax — for sculpting
  14. mate — a friend
  15. wax — to grow
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. mark — a grade
  18. lie — to recline
  19. bank — of a river
  20. wax — in the ear
  21. stem — to come from
  22. bank — for money
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. bank — for money

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