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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
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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: wax · track · mark · bank · mug · can · stock · mine

  1. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  2. The ________________ market has crashed.
  3. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  4. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  5. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  9. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  10. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  11. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  12. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  13. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  16. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  17. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  18. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  19. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  20. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  21. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  22. Where did you ________________ them?
  23. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  24. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — of a river
  2. stock — shares
  3. track — to keep track
  4. bank — for money
  5. track — a song
  6. can — to be able to
  7. can — a tin
  8. bank — for money
  9. mug — a face
  10. mark — to pay attention
  11. mark — a grade
  12. wax — to grow
  13. wax — in the ear
  14. can — a tin
  15. track — a path
  16. stock — a soup base
  17. mug — a cup
  18. mine — for digging
  19. wax — for sculpting
  20. mine — an explosive
  21. mine — belonging to me
  22. mug — to rob
  23. mark — a trace
  24. stock — goods

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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