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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: saw · squash · wax · wave · branch · bore · rock · root

  1. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  2. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  3. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  4. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  5. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  6. She's very handy with a ________________.
  7. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  8. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  9. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  10. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  13. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  14. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  15. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  16. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  17. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  18. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  19. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  20. He works in a ________________ mill.
  21. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  22. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  23. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a bank
  2. branch — a division
  3. squash — the sport
  4. wax — to grow
  5. bore — gave birth
  6. saw — the tool
  7. squash — the vegetable
  8. branch — of a tree
  9. wave — a sudden rise
  10. rock — a stone
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. root — of a plant
  13. wax — in the ear
  14. wave — of the sea
  15. bore — to tire
  16. wax — for sculpting
  17. squash — to crush
  18. bore — to drill
  19. root — the cause
  20. saw — the tool
  21. wave — with your hand
  22. saw — past of 'see'
  23. root — of a word
  24. rock — music

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