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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 120 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
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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 · tube · bowl · temple · swing · saw · lie · wax

  1. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  2. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  3. I'll be taking the ________________.
  4. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  5. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  6. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  7. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  8. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  9. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  10. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  11. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  12. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  13. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  14. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  15. She's very handy with a ________________.
  16. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  17. When was this ________________ built?
  18. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  19. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  20. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  21. He works in a ________________ mill.
  22. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  23. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  24. David sat on the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — in the ear
  2. bowl — to roll
  3. tube — the underground
  4. tube — a container
  5. bank — of a river
  6. wax — to grow
  7. saw — past of 'see'
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. tube — in a tire
  10. wax — for sculpting
  11. temple — side of the head
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. swing — music
  14. swing — in golf
  15. saw — the tool
  16. bowl — a dish
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. bank — for money
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. bowl — a football final
  21. saw — the tool
  22. bank — for money
  23. lie — to recline
  24. swing — to play on

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