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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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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: drill · wax · can · pitch · fall · fan · bank · dip

  1. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  2. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  3. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  4. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  7. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  8. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  9. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  10. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  11. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  12. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  13. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  14. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  15. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  16. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  17. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  20. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  21. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  22. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  23. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  24. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. dip — a sauce
  3. drill — army training
  4. pitch — a sports field
  5. can — to be able to
  6. bank — of a river
  7. fall — to drop
  8. drill — a practice
  9. pitch — completely
  10. pitch — a sales talk
  11. dip — to dunk
  12. bank — for money
  13. dip — to sink
  14. drill — the tool
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. wax — in the ear
  17. fan — to cool the air
  18. can — a tin
  19. wax — to grow
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. fall — the season
  22. wax — for sculpting
  23. fall — to drop
  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