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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: season · wax · trunk · can · bank · coach · suit · fine

  1. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  2. Have you met the new head ________________?
  3. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  4. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  5. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  6. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  7. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  8. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. When will it ________________ you to start?
  12. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  13. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  14. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  15. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  18. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  19. Did you ________________ the meat?
  20. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  21. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  22. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  23. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — to grow
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. bank — of a river
  4. fine — all right
  5. coach — pulled by horses
  6. season — in sport
  7. trunk — of a tree
  8. trunk — of an elephant
  9. can — a tin
  10. can — a tin
  11. suit — to fit
  12. wax — for sculpting
  13. bank — for money
  14. fine — a penalty
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. can — to be able to
  17. wax — in the ear
  18. bank — for money
  19. season — to add flavour
  20. season — of the year
  21. trunk — of a car
  22. suit — in cards
  23. fine — high quality
  24. suit — clothes

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