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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 · nail · jam · face · fan · can · chip · bank

  1. The ________________ went through the wall.
  2. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  3. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  4. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  10. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  11. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  12. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  13. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  14. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  15. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  16. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  17. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  18. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  19. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  22. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  23. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  24. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. wax — for sculpting
  3. fan — to cool the air
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. can — to be able to
  6. can — a tin
  7. bank — of a river
  8. can — a tin
  9. face — to point toward
  10. face — part of the head
  11. jam — a tight spot
  12. nail — on a finger
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. wax — in the ear
  15. face — to confront
  16. jam — in traffic
  17. bank — for money
  18. wax — to grow
  19. bank — for money
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. chip — to eat
  22. chip — in a computer
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. chip — for betting

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