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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.

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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: bulb · charge · mug · wound · wax · branch · hand · bore

  1. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  2. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  3. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  4. I've got to change the light ________________.
  5. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  6. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  7. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  8. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  9. Where did you ________________ them?
  10. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  11. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  12. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  13. The tickets are free of ________________.
  14. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  15. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  16. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  17. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  18. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  19. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  20. The light ________________ burned out.
  21. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  22. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  23. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — gave birth
  2. wax — to grow
  3. bore — to drill
  4. bulb — for light
  5. wax — for sculpting
  6. branch — of a bank
  7. mug — a cup
  8. hand — in cards
  9. mug — to rob
  10. branch — of a tree
  11. wound — an injury
  12. wound — an injury
  13. charge — a price
  14. wax — in the ear
  15. branch — a division
  16. charge — in control
  17. hand — help
  18. bulb — of a plant
  19. bore — to tire
  20. bulb — for light
  21. charge — electricity
  22. hand — part of the body
  23. wound — past of 'wind'
  24. mug — a face

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