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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.

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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: kick · cap · mouse · object · arm · wax · branch · plane

  1. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  3. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  4. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  5. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  6. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  7. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  8. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  9. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  10. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  11. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  12. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  13. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  14. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  15. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  16. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  17. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  18. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  19. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  20. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  21. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  22. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  23. My father caught me by the ________________.
  24. The ________________ took off on time.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. branch — of a tree
  4. cap — a lid
  5. branch — of a bank
  6. plane — a tool
  7. wax — in the ear
  8. object — to protest
  9. mouse — for a computer
  10. cap — of ice
  11. wax — to grow
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. wax — for sculpting
  14. kick — with a leg
  15. object — a thing
  16. cap — a hat
  17. kick — in football
  18. branch — a division
  19. object — an aim
  20. kick — a thrill
  21. arm — part of the body
  22. arm — a part of something
  23. arm — part of the body
  24. plane — an aircraft

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