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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.

Make a worksheet

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: track · object · wax · arm · bear · cabinet · coach · perch

  1. Have you met the new head ________________?
  2. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  3. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  4. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  5. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  6. What do you think of the new ________________?
  7. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  8. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  9. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  10. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  13. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  14. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  15. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  16. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  17. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  18. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  19. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  20. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  21. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  22. My father caught me by the ________________.
  23. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  24. A black ________________ roamed the forest.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. arm — part of the body
  3. track — a song
  4. perch — the fish
  5. bear — to put up with
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. cabinet — a cupboard
  8. perch — for a bird
  9. wax — in the ear
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. bear — the animal
  13. wax — to grow
  14. track — a path
  15. object — a thing
  16. object — an aim
  17. perch — for a bird
  18. coach — pulled by horses
  19. wax — for sculpting
  20. track — to keep track
  21. object — to protest
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. arm — a part of something
  24. bear — the animal

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