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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: root · wax · vault · cabinet · sharp · foot · branch · object

  1. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  2. What do you think of the new ________________?
  3. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  4. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  5. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  6. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  7. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  8. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  9. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  10. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  11. It's one o'clock ________________.
  12. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  13. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  14. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  15. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  16. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  17. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  18. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  19. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  20. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  21. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  22. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  23. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  24. Biology is a ________________ of science.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — to grow
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. root — of a word
  4. sharp — clever
  5. wax — for sculpting
  6. branch — of a tree
  7. branch — of a bank
  8. object — an aim
  9. cabinet — a cupboard
  10. foot — part of the body
  11. sharp — exactly
  12. vault — an arched ceiling
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. root — the cause
  15. root — of a plant
  16. vault — a safe
  17. sharp — with an edge
  18. foot — the bottom
  19. object — to protest
  20. object — a thing
  21. wax — in the ear
  22. foot — a measure
  23. vault — in gymnastics
  24. branch — a division

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