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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: craft · can · rest · wax · lie · toast · bound · bank

  1. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  2. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  3. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  4. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  7. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  8. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  9. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  10. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  11. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  12. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  13. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  14. That was ________________ to happen.
  15. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  18. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  19. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  20. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  21. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  22. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. toast — the most admired
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. toast — bread
  5. can — to be able to
  6. toast — a drink to someone
  7. wax — to grow
  8. wax — for sculpting
  9. craft — a handicraft
  10. bound — obliged
  11. craft — a skill
  12. craft — boats
  13. rest — a break
  14. bound — certain
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. can — a tin
  17. lie — to recline
  18. wax — in the ear
  19. bank — of a river
  20. rest — what's left
  21. bound — tied together
  22. bank — for money
  23. can — a tin
  24. bank — for money

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