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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.

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: wax · dip · perch · can · bowl · track · branch · kid

  1. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  3. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  4. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  5. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  6. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  9. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  10. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  13. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  14. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  15. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  16. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  17. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  18. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  19. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  20. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  21. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  22. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  23. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  24. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. track — a path
  3. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  4. perch — the fish
  5. branch — of a tree
  6. wax — in the ear
  7. can — a tin
  8. dip — to sink
  9. track — a song
  10. dip — to dunk
  11. can — to be able to
  12. bowl — a football final
  13. dip — a sauce
  14. kid — child
  15. branch — of a bank
  16. branch — a division
  17. perch — for a bird
  18. wax — for sculpting
  19. perch — for a bird
  20. track — to keep track
  21. bowl — a dish
  22. bowl — to roll
  23. wax — to grow
  24. kid — to tease

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