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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: bulb · wax · fork · wave · wound · bank · shower · ground

  1. There's no middle ________________.
  2. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  3. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  4. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  5. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  6. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  9. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  10. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  11. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  12. The light ________________ burned out.
  13. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  14. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  15. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  16. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  17. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  18. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  19. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  20. I've got to change the light ________________.
  21. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  22. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  23. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  24. Add some ________________ pepper to it.

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

Answer key

  1. ground — a position
  2. fork — in a road
  3. wax — in the ear
  4. wave — with your hand
  5. wax — for sculpting
  6. wound — past of 'wind'
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. wound — an injury
  9. bank — of a river
  10. shower — a meteor shower
  11. ground — the earth
  12. bulb — for light
  13. fork — a garden tool
  14. shower — rain
  15. wave — of the sea
  16. bank — for money
  17. fork — to eat with
  18. shower — to wash
  19. wax — to grow
  20. bulb — for light
  21. wound — an injury
  22. wave — a sudden rise
  23. bank — for money
  24. ground — crushed

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