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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: mark · roll · mouse · perch · nail · stock · wax · wave

  1. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  2. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  3. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  4. The ________________ market has crashed.
  5. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  6. The ________________ went through the wall.
  7. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  8. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  9. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  10. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  11. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  12. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  13. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  14. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  15. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  16. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  17. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  18. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  19. We're on a ________________ here.
  20. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  21. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  22. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  23. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  24. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. perch — for a bird
  2. mouse — for a computer
  3. mark — to pay attention
  4. stock — shares
  5. stock — goods
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. nail — on a finger
  8. wave — a sudden rise
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. wax — to grow
  11. mark — a grade
  12. perch — the fish
  13. wave — with your hand
  14. roll — a cake
  15. wave — of the sea
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. roll — a list
  18. wax — for sculpting
  19. roll — on a roll
  20. stock — a soup base
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. mark — a trace
  24. wax — in the ear

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