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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: stick · bank · staff · ball · rush · leaves · wax · prune

  1. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  2. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  3. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  4. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  5. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  6. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  7. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  8. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  9. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  10. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  11. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  12. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  13. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  14. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  15. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  16. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  20. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  21. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  22. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  23. The King held a masked ________________.
  24. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. stick — a piece of wood
  3. bank — of a river
  4. rush — to hurry
  5. ball — a round shape
  6. staff — a stick
  7. prune — to trim
  8. wax — in the ear
  9. wax — for sculpting
  10. staff — employees
  11. ball — a great time
  12. staff — employees
  13. stick — to attach or keep to
  14. bank — for money
  15. stick — a piece of wood
  16. leaves — to go away
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. rush — hurry
  19. wax — to grow
  20. prune — the fruit
  21. leaves — lets stay
  22. leaves — of a tree
  23. ball — a dance
  24. prune — to trim

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