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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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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: object · date · vault · bank · wax · rest · mark · wound

  1. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  2. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  3. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  4. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  5. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  6. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  7. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  8. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  9. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  10. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  11. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  12. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  13. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  14. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  15. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  16. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  17. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  18. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  19. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  20. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  21. Have you settled on a ________________?
  22. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  23. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  24. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?

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

Answer key

  1. date — the fruit
  2. vault — a safe
  3. mark — a grade
  4. mark — a trace
  5. wax — in the ear
  6. bank — for money
  7. mark — to pay attention
  8. vault — in gymnastics
  9. wound — past of 'wind'
  10. date — on the calendar
  11. vault — an arched ceiling
  12. bank — for money
  13. wound — an injury
  14. wax — for sculpting
  15. wax — to grow
  16. object — an aim
  17. wound — an injury
  18. bank — of a river
  19. rest — what's left
  20. rest — a break
  21. date — on the calendar
  22. rest — what's left
  23. object — a thing
  24. object — to protest

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