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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: wax · perch · hand · pit · bank · object · lie · foot

  1. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  2. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  3. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  4. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  5. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  6. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  7. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  8. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  9. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  10. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  11. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  12. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  13. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  14. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  15. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  16. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  17. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  18. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  19. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  20. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  21. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  22. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  23. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  24. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — in the ear
  2. wax — for sculpting
  3. foot — part of the body
  4. perch — the fish
  5. object — an aim
  6. foot — a measure
  7. perch — for a bird
  8. lie — to recline
  9. bank — for money
  10. pit — a fruit stone
  11. bank — for money
  12. pit — a hole
  13. hand — help
  14. bank — of a river
  15. object — a thing
  16. wax — to grow
  17. hand — in cards
  18. perch — for a bird
  19. foot — the bottom
  20. pit — in a race
  21. hand — part of the body
  22. object — to protest
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. lie — an untruth

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