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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
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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: can · land · mine · branch · wax · bank · lie · mug

  1. Where did you ________________ them?
  2. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  3. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  4. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  5. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  6. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  7. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  8. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. When are we going to ________________?
  11. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  12. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  13. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  14. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  15. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  16. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  17. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  18. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  19. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  20. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — to rob
  2. mine — belonging to me
  3. bank — for money
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. wax — for sculpting
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. land — ground
  8. mine — an explosive
  9. can — to be able to
  10. land — to come down
  11. mine — for digging
  12. bank — for money
  13. branch — of a tree
  14. branch — a division
  15. land — a country
  16. wax — to grow
  17. mug — a cup
  18. wax — in the ear
  19. lie — to recline
  20. mug — a face
  21. can — a tin
  22. bank — of a river
  23. can — a tin
  24. branch — of a bank

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