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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: bank · ball · bulb · squash · bay · march · plane · wax

  1. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  2. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  3. The ________________ took off on time.
  4. I've got to change the light ________________.
  5. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  6. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  7. The King held a masked ________________.
  8. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  9. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  10. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  11. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  12. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  13. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  14. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  15. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  16. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  17. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  18. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  19. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  20. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  21. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. My mare is ________________ in color.
  24. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. wax — for sculpting
  3. plane — an aircraft
  4. bulb — for light
  5. bank — for money
  6. ball — a great time
  7. ball — a dance
  8. bay — a part of the sea
  9. bay — to keep at bay
  10. march — the month
  11. march — music
  12. wax — to grow
  13. wax — in the ear
  14. bank — of a river
  15. squash — to crush
  16. squash — the sport
  17. march — the month
  18. plane — in geometry
  19. ball — a round shape
  20. squash — the vegetable
  21. bulb — of a plant
  22. bulb — for light
  23. bay — a horse colour
  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