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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 120 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 · bear · can · current · prune · wake · pitcher · bank

  1. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  2. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  3. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  4. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  7. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  8. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  9. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  10. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  14. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  15. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  16. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  17. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  18. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  19. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  20. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  21. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  22. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  23. He is an ace ________________.
  24. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — to grow
  2. wax — for sculpting
  3. bear — the animal
  4. bank — of a river
  5. can — a tin
  6. wake — to stop sleeping
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. wax — in the ear
  9. bank — for money
  10. prune — the fruit
  11. can — a tin
  12. can — to be able to
  13. prune — to trim
  14. bear — to put up with
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. bank — for money
  17. current — happening now
  18. current — electric
  19. wake — before a funeral
  20. prune — to trim
  21. current — of water
  22. bear — the animal
  23. pitcher — in baseball
  24. wake — a trail

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