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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 120 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: chip · wax · object · dip · nail · branch · craft · ground

  1. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  2. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  3. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  4. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  5. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  6. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  7. The ________________ went through the wall.
  8. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  9. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  10. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  11. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  12. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  13. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  14. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  15. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  16. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  17. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  18. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  19. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  20. There's no middle ________________.
  21. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  22. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  23. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  24. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.

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

Answer key

  1. ground — the earth
  2. dip — to sink
  3. wax — in the ear
  4. chip — to eat
  5. wax — for sculpting
  6. craft — a skill
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. chip — for betting
  9. dip — a sauce
  10. craft — a handicraft
  11. craft — boats
  12. chip — in a computer
  13. branch — a division
  14. wax — to grow
  15. object — to protest
  16. branch — of a tree
  17. dip — to dunk
  18. object — an aim
  19. branch — of a bank
  20. ground — a position
  21. object — a thing
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. ground — crushed
  24. nail — on a finger

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