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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: spell · bear · bound · wax · stand · dip · mate · club

  1. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  2. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  3. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  4. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  5. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  6. That was ________________ to happen.
  7. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  8. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  9. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  10. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  11. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  12. Have you found your soul ________________?
  13. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  14. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  15. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  16. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  17. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  18. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  19. I can't ________________ this cold.
  20. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  21. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  22. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  23. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  24. How do you ________________ your surname?

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to dunk
  2. bear — to put up with
  3. stand — for spectators
  4. bound — tied together
  5. stand — on your feet
  6. bound — certain
  7. spell — a short time
  8. bear — the animal
  9. bear — the animal
  10. wax — in the ear
  11. wax — to grow
  12. mate — a partner
  13. spell — magic
  14. dip — to sink
  15. mate — to breed
  16. club — a group
  17. wax — for sculpting
  18. dip — a sauce
  19. stand — to bear
  20. club — for golf
  21. bound — obliged
  22. mate — a friend
  23. club — for dancing
  24. spell — letters

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