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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: spell · bat · pit · object · wax · bank · wave · nail

  1. How do you ________________ your surname?
  2. The ________________ went through the wall.
  3. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  4. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  5. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  6. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  7. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  8. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  9. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  10. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  11. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  12. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  13. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  14. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  15. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  16. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  17. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  18. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  19. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  20. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  21. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  22. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  23. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  24. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — letters
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. wave — with your hand
  4. wave — a sudden rise
  5. bank — for money
  6. pit — a hole
  7. bank — of a river
  8. bat — for baseball
  9. bat — in an idiom
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. wax — in the ear
  12. pit — a fruit stone
  13. spell — magic
  14. bank — for money
  15. object — a thing
  16. object — to protest
  17. bat — the animal
  18. wax — for sculpting
  19. spell — a short time
  20. nail — on a finger
  21. wave — of the sea
  22. wax — to grow
  23. object — an aim
  24. pit — in a race

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