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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: bank · wave · wax · arm · court · stem · mark · jam

  1. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  2. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  3. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  4. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  5. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  6. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  9. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  10. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  11. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  12. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  13. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  14. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  15. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  16. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  17. The ball is in your ________________.
  18. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  19. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. My father caught me by the ________________.
  22. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  23. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  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. jam — in traffic
  2. mark — to pay attention
  3. stem — a stem cell
  4. court — of law
  5. mark — a trace
  6. wave — a sudden rise
  7. mark — a grade
  8. wave — of the sea
  9. wax — to grow
  10. wax — for sculpting
  11. arm — part of the body
  12. stem — to come from
  13. jam — a tight spot
  14. wave — with your hand
  15. bank — for money
  16. bank — for money
  17. court — for sport
  18. stem — of a plant
  19. bank — of a river
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. arm — part of the body
  22. court — of a king
  23. arm — a part of something
  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