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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: lie · row · wax · wake · stand · deal · ball · trunk

  1. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  2. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  3. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  4. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  5. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  6. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  7. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  8. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  9. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  10. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  11. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  12. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  13. I can't ________________ this cold.
  14. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  15. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  16. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  17. The King held a masked ________________.
  18. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  19. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  20. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  21. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  22. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  23. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  24. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of a tree
  2. row — a line
  3. trunk — of a car
  4. deal — a big deal
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. wake — to stop sleeping
  7. lie — to recline
  8. wake — a trail
  9. ball — a round shape
  10. deal — to handle
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. row — a quarrel
  13. stand — to bear
  14. wax — in the ear
  15. wax — for sculpting
  16. wax — to grow
  17. ball — a dance
  18. ball — a great time
  19. deal — an agreement
  20. row — to paddle
  21. trunk — of an elephant
  22. wake — before a funeral
  23. stand — on your feet
  24. stand — for spectators

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