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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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 · vault · lie · root · plane · branch · staff · bass

  1. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  2. The ________________ took off on time.
  3. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  4. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  5. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  6. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  7. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  8. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  9. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  10. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  11. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  12. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  13. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  14. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  15. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  16. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  17. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  18. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  19. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  20. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  21. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  22. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  23. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  24. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. plane — an aircraft
  3. root — the cause
  4. staff — employees
  5. lie — to recline
  6. staff — employees
  7. vault — an arched ceiling
  8. vault — a safe
  9. vault — in gymnastics
  10. staff — a stick
  11. branch — of a tree
  12. bass — the instrument
  13. plane — a tool
  14. bass — low music
  15. branch — of a bank
  16. root — of a word
  17. wax — in the ear
  18. plane — in geometry
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. wax — for sculpting
  21. root — of a plant
  22. branch — a division
  23. wax — to grow
  24. bass — the fish

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