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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: stand · wax · bear · bound · perch · pop · spring · bay

  1. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  2. We're almost out of ________________.
  3. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  4. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  5. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  6. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  7. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  8. That was ________________ to happen.
  9. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  10. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  11. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  12. I can't ________________ this cold.
  13. You don't need to ________________ round.
  14. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  15. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  16. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  17. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  18. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  19. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  20. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  21. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  22. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  23. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  24. My mare is ________________ in color.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — a part of the sea
  2. pop — soda
  3. wax — in the ear
  4. pop — music
  5. perch — the fish
  6. stand — on your feet
  7. bear — the animal
  8. bound — certain
  9. bear — to put up with
  10. wax — to grow
  11. bound — tied together
  12. stand — to bear
  13. pop — to visit
  14. spring — a coil
  15. bound — obliged
  16. spring — the season
  17. spring — of water
  18. wax — for sculpting
  19. perch — for a bird
  20. perch — for a bird
  21. stand — for spectators
  22. bay — to keep at bay
  23. bear — the animal
  24. bay — a horse colour

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