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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: bound · bank · leaves · stem · rush · wax · pass · scale

  1. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  2. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  3. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  4. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  5. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  6. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  7. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  8. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  9. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  10. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  11. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  12. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  15. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  16. That must've been a ________________.
  17. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  18. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  19. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  20. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  21. That was ________________ to happen.
  22. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  23. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  24. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — a stem cell
  2. wax — for sculpting
  3. rush — to hurry
  4. pass — to succeed
  5. scale — in music
  6. scale — size or range
  7. pass — a permit
  8. leaves — lets stay
  9. wax — to grow
  10. rush — hurry
  11. stem — of a plant
  12. scale — for weighing
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. pass — to spend time
  15. leaves — to go away
  16. rush — a thrill
  17. bound — obliged
  18. stem — to come from
  19. bank — for money
  20. bound — tied together
  21. bound — certain
  22. bank — of a river
  23. wax — in the ear
  24. bank — for money

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