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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: fan · can · wake · wax · stock · bass · track · bank

  1. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  2. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  3. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  6. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  7. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  8. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  9. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  10. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  13. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  14. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  15. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  16. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  17. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  18. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  19. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  20. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  21. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  22. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  23. The ________________ market has crashed.
  24. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. bass — the instrument
  3. bank — for money
  4. can — to be able to
  5. bank — for money
  6. wake — a trail
  7. track — a path
  8. wake — to stop sleeping
  9. bank — of a river
  10. bass — the fish
  11. can — a tin
  12. bass — low music
  13. track — to keep track
  14. wake — before a funeral
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. fan — to cool the air
  17. wax — to grow
  18. track — a song
  19. wax — in the ear
  20. stock — goods
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. stock — a soup base
  23. stock — shares
  24. wax — for sculpting

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