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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
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: mate · spell · track · coach · wax · stick · stem · bank

  1. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  2. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  3. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  4. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  5. Have you found your soul ________________?
  6. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  7. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  8. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  9. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  10. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  11. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  12. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  13. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  14. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  15. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  16. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  17. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  18. Have you met the new head ________________?
  19. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  20. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  21. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  22. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  23. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  24. How do you ________________ your surname?

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

Answer key

  1. bank — of a river
  2. mate — a friend
  3. spell — magic
  4. stem — of a plant
  5. mate — a partner
  6. mate — to breed
  7. stick — a piece of wood
  8. stem — to come from
  9. stem — a stem cell
  10. track — a path
  11. coach — pulled by horses
  12. wax — to grow
  13. bank — for money
  14. wax — for sculpting
  15. track — a song
  16. spell — a short time
  17. stick — a piece of wood
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. bank — for money
  20. stick — to attach or keep to
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. track — to keep track
  23. wax — in the ear
  24. spell — letters

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