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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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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 · mug · rock · fan · fine · land · dip · wax

  1. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  2. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  3. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  4. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  5. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  6. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  7. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  8. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  9. Where did you ________________ them?
  10. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  11. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  12. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  13. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  14. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  15. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  16. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  17. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  18. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. When are we going to ________________?
  23. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  24. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.

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

Answer key

  1. land — a country
  2. mug — a face
  3. bank — for money
  4. land — ground
  5. dip — to sink
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. dip — to dunk
  8. bank — for money
  9. mug — to rob
  10. wax — in the ear
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. rock — a stone
  13. wax — to grow
  14. fan — to cool the air
  15. fine — high quality
  16. wax — for sculpting
  17. fine — a penalty
  18. bank — of a river
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. mug — a cup
  21. rock — music
  22. land — to come down
  23. fine — all right
  24. dip — a sauce

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