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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: mug · bank · bowl · stem · jam · tube · ball · wax

  1. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  2. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  3. The King held a masked ________________.
  4. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  5. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  6. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  7. I'll be taking the ________________.
  8. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  9. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  10. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  11. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  12. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  13. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  14. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  17. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  18. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  19. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  22. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  23. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  24. He refilled his coffee ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — a container
  2. bowl — a football final
  3. ball — a dance
  4. jam — a tight spot
  5. bank — for money
  6. jam — in traffic
  7. tube — the underground
  8. bowl — to roll
  9. wax — in the ear
  10. bank — for money
  11. ball — a great time
  12. stem — to come from
  13. mug — a face
  14. bank — of a river
  15. mug — to rob
  16. stem — of a plant
  17. stem — a stem cell
  18. wax — to grow
  19. ball — a round shape
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. wax — for sculpting
  22. bowl — a dish
  23. tube — in a tire
  24. mug — a cup

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