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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 · current · branch · suit · wound · mark · key · fan

  1. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  2. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  3. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  4. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  5. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  6. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  7. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  8. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  9. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  10. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  11. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  12. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  13. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  14. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  15. When will it ________________ you to start?
  16. This piece is in a major ________________.
  17. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  18. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  19. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  20. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  21. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  22. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  23. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a tree
  2. branch — of a bank
  3. mark — a grade
  4. fan — to cool the air
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. mark — a trace
  7. suit — in cards
  8. wax — in the ear
  9. current — of water
  10. key — the most important part
  11. wound — an injury
  12. branch — a division
  13. wax — for sculpting
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. suit — to fit
  16. key — in music
  17. key — for a lock
  18. current — happening now
  19. wound — past of 'wind'
  20. wax — to grow
  21. mark — to pay attention
  22. current — electric
  23. wound — an injury
  24. suit — clothes

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