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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: branch · charge · tube · pass · bore · can · calf · wax

  1. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  2. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  3. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  4. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  5. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  6. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  7. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  8. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  9. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  10. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  11. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  12. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  13. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  14. The tickets are free of ________________.
  15. I'll be taking the ________________.
  16. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  17. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  18. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  19. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  22. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.

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

Answer key

  1. can — to be able to
  2. branch — a division
  3. wax — in the ear
  4. wax — to grow
  5. bore — to tire
  6. pass — to succeed
  7. bore — gave birth
  8. pass — to spend time
  9. branch — of a bank
  10. bore — to drill
  11. branch — of a tree
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. calf — of the leg
  14. charge — a price
  15. tube — the underground
  16. wax — for sculpting
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. charge — electricity
  19. charge — in control
  20. can — a tin
  21. tube — in a tire
  22. pass — a permit
  23. can — a tin
  24. tube — a container

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