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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: hide · branch · root · wax · bay · fan · rush · fork

  1. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  2. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  3. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  4. That must've been a ________________.
  5. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  6. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  7. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  8. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  9. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  10. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  11. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  12. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  13. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  14. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  15. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  16. My mare is ________________ in color.
  17. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  18. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  19. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  22. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  23. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  24. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. branch — of a tree
  4. rush — a thrill
  5. root — of a word
  6. bay — a part of the sea
  7. wax — to grow
  8. wax — for sculpting
  9. hide — animal skin
  10. fork — in a road
  11. root — the cause
  12. rush — hurry
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. wax — in the ear
  15. fan — to cool the air
  16. bay — a horse colour
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. branch — a division
  19. root — of a plant
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. fork — a garden tool
  23. branch — of a bank
  24. fork — to eat with

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