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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: pass · toast · stick · branch · wax · lean · perch · leaves

  1. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  2. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  3. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  4. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  5. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  6. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  7. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  8. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  9. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  10. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  11. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  12. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  13. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  14. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  15. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  16. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  17. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  18. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  19. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  20. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  21. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  22. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  23. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  24. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. perch — for a bird
  2. wax — to grow
  3. branch — of a tree
  4. branch — of a bank
  5. wax — in the ear
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. stick — to attach or keep to
  8. perch — the fish
  9. toast — the most admired
  10. leaves — lets stay
  11. lean — to bend
  12. leaves — of a tree
  13. pass — to succeed
  14. leaves — to go away
  15. pass — to spend time
  16. branch — a division
  17. lean — to rest against
  18. toast — bread
  19. lean — thin
  20. pass — a permit
  21. wax — for sculpting
  22. toast — a drink to someone
  23. stick — a piece of wood
  24. stick — a piece of wood

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