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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 116 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: coach · wax · dip · can · saw · stem · bank · racket

  1. She's very handy with a ________________.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. He works in a ________________ mill.
  4. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  5. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  6. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  7. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  8. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  9. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  12. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  13. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  14. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  15. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  18. Have you met the new head ________________?
  19. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  20. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  21. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  22. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  23. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  24. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. can — a tin
  3. saw — the tool
  4. stem — to come from
  5. bank — for money
  6. wax — for sculpting
  7. racket — for tennis
  8. bank — of a river
  9. dip — to dunk
  10. can — to be able to
  11. wax — to grow
  12. racket — for tennis
  13. stem — of a plant
  14. racket — a loud noise
  15. bank — for money
  16. can — a tin
  17. wax — in the ear
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. stem — a stem cell
  21. coach — pulled by horses
  22. saw — past of 'see'
  23. dip — to sink
  24. dip — a sauce

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