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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: fine · wax · branch · coach · mate · stick · nail · pit

  1. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  2. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  3. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  4. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  5. The ________________ went through the wall.
  6. Have you found your soul ________________?
  7. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  8. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  9. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  10. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  11. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  12. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  13. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  14. Have you met the new head ________________?
  15. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  16. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  17. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  18. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  19. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  20. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  21. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  22. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  23. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  24. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — high quality
  2. wax — to grow
  3. fine — a penalty
  4. pit — a hole
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. mate — a partner
  7. nail — on a finger
  8. mate — a friend
  9. wax — in the ear
  10. stick — a piece of wood
  11. branch — of a bank
  12. branch — of a tree
  13. stick — to attach or keep to
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. stick — a piece of wood
  16. mate — to breed
  17. branch — a division
  18. pit — in a race
  19. coach — pulled by horses
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. fine — all right
  22. wax — for sculpting
  23. pit — a fruit stone
  24. coach — a trainer

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