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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
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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: wax · branch · rash · date · bank · mouse · bay · nail

  1. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  2. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  3. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  4. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  5. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  6. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  7. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  8. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  9. My mare is ________________ in color.
  10. The ________________ went through the wall.
  11. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  12. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  13. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  14. Have you settled on a ________________?
  15. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  16. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  17. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  18. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  19. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  20. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  21. Don't do anything ________________.
  22. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  23. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  24. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. rash — a series
  4. date — the fruit
  5. branch — of a tree
  6. mouse — for a computer
  7. rash — on the skin
  8. bank — of a river
  9. bay — a horse colour
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. bay — a part of the sea
  12. bank — for money
  13. wax — for sculpting
  14. date — on the calendar
  15. branch — of a bank
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. bay — to keep at bay
  18. date — on the calendar
  19. nail — on a finger
  20. wax — to grow
  21. rash — hasty
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. branch — a division
  24. wax — in the ear

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