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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: bulb · bank · fork · branch · lie · wax · last · tube

  1. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  2. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  3. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  4. I've got to change the light ________________.
  5. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  6. False peace will not ________________.
  7. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  8. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  9. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  10. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  11. The light ________________ burned out.
  12. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  13. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  14. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  15. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  16. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  17. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  18. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  19. I'll be taking the ________________.
  20. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  21. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  22. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  23. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  24. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — to recline
  2. branch — of a tree
  3. wax — in the ear
  4. bulb — for light
  5. last — final
  6. last — to go on
  7. fork — to eat with
  8. fork — in a road
  9. tube — a container
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. bulb — for light
  12. last — finally
  13. branch — of a bank
  14. wax — to grow
  15. branch — a division
  16. bank — for money
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. fork — a garden tool
  19. tube — the underground
  20. bank — of a river
  21. wax — for sculpting
  22. bank — for money
  23. bulb — of a plant
  24. tube — in a tire

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