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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: leaves · press · mate · bank · bark · wax · temple · safe

  1. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  2. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  3. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  4. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  5. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  6. Have you found your soul ________________?
  7. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  8. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  9. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  13. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  14. When was this ________________ built?
  15. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  16. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  17. Did you ________________ the button?
  18. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  19. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  22. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. bank — for money
  3. bark — of a tree
  4. wax — to grow
  5. bark — to shout
  6. mate — a partner
  7. wax — for sculpting
  8. leaves — lets stay
  9. bank — for money
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. press — newspapers
  13. temple — side of the head
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. mate — a friend
  16. press — a publisher
  17. press — to push
  18. mate — to breed
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. bank — of a river
  22. wax — in the ear
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. bark — a dog's sound

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