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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.

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: press · bank · tube · bear · wax · nail · mine · fork

  1. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  4. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  5. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  6. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  7. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  8. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  9. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  10. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  11. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  12. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  13. I'll be taking the ________________.
  14. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  15. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  16. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  17. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  18. Did you ________________ the button?
  19. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  20. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  21. The ________________ went through the wall.
  22. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  23. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  24. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. press — newspapers
  3. bear — the animal
  4. bear — the animal
  5. fork — to eat with
  6. wax — for sculpting
  7. press — a publisher
  8. tube — a container
  9. fork — in a road
  10. bank — of a river
  11. wax — to grow
  12. mine — for digging
  13. tube — the underground
  14. mine — belonging to me
  15. bank — for money
  16. bank — for money
  17. wax — in the ear
  18. press — to push
  19. tube — in a tire
  20. mine — an explosive
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. fork — a garden tool
  23. bear — to put up with
  24. nail — on a finger

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