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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.

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: mark · wax · bark · plane · object · can · march · bear

  1. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  2. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  3. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  4. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  5. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. The ________________ took off on time.
  8. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  11. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  12. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  13. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  14. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  17. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  18. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  19. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  20. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  21. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  22. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  23. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  24. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — in the ear
  2. bark — of a tree
  3. object — an aim
  4. wax — for sculpting
  5. mark — a trace
  6. can — a tin
  7. plane — an aircraft
  8. march — the month
  9. can — a tin
  10. bear — to put up with
  11. bear — the animal
  12. object — to protest
  13. object — a thing
  14. plane — a tool
  15. can — to be able to
  16. bark — to shout
  17. mark — a grade
  18. bear — the animal
  19. mark — to pay attention
  20. march — the month
  21. bark — a dog's sound
  22. wax — to grow
  23. march — music
  24. plane — in geometry

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