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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: cell · toast · leaves · hide · bear · bank · wax · board

  1. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  2. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  3. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  4. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  5. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  6. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  7. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  8. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  9. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  10. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  11. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  12. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  13. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  14. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  15. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  16. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  17. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  18. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  19. He was locked up in a ________________.
  20. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  21. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  22. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  23. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  24. We have nothing to ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. toast — bread
  2. cell — in biology
  3. wax — to grow
  4. board — a flat piece
  5. bear — the animal
  6. leaves — lets stay
  7. wax — in the ear
  8. bank — for money
  9. bear — to put up with
  10. bank — of a river
  11. board — a committee
  12. leaves — of a tree
  13. bank — for money
  14. toast — the most admired
  15. wax — for sculpting
  16. bear — the animal
  17. leaves — to go away
  18. cell — a phone
  19. cell — in a prison
  20. hide — animal skin
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. toast — a drink to someone
  23. board — to get on
  24. hide — to keep secret

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