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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
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: nail · rest · pitcher · bear · prune · wax · racket · stem

  1. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  2. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  3. The ________________ went through the wall.
  4. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  5. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  6. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  7. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  8. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  9. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  10. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  11. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  12. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  13. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  14. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  15. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  16. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  17. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  18. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  19. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  20. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  21. He is an ace ________________.
  22. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  23. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  24. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. rest — what's left
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. wax — to grow
  5. wax — in the ear
  6. bear — to put up with
  7. stem — a stem cell
  8. prune — the fruit
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. racket — for tennis
  11. racket — for tennis
  12. prune — to trim
  13. stem — to come from
  14. wax — for sculpting
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. bear — the animal
  17. rest — a break
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. stem — of a plant
  20. nail — on a finger
  21. pitcher — in baseball
  22. racket — a loud noise
  23. prune — to trim
  24. bear — the animal

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