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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 116 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: rock · bank · bark · lash · mug · fork · wax · cue

  1. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  2. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  3. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  4. Where did you ________________ them?
  5. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  6. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  7. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  8. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  9. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  10. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  11. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  12. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  13. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  14. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  15. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  18. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  19. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  20. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  23. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  24. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. bank — of a river
  3. bark — of a tree
  4. mug — to rob
  5. lash — a whip stroke
  6. fork — a garden tool
  7. cue — a signal
  8. mug — a cup
  9. cue — a hint
  10. wax — in the ear
  11. wax — to grow
  12. rock — to move gently
  13. bark — to shout
  14. cue — for pool
  15. rock — a stone
  16. mug — a face
  17. bank — for money
  18. lash — an eyelash
  19. fork — in a road
  20. wax — for sculpting
  21. rock — music
  22. bark — a dog's sound
  23. lash — to lash out
  24. fork — to eat with

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