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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  2. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  3. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  4. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  5. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  6. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  7. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  8. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  9. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  10. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  11. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  12. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  13. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  14. I can't ________________ this cold.
  15. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  16. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  17. Have you met the new head ________________?
  18. 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. pass — to spend time
  2. pass — to succeed
  3. wax — to grow
  4. net — in sport
  5. net — for catching
  6. wax — for sculpting
  7. branch — a division
  8. branch — of a bank
  9. wax — in the ear
  10. net — after costs
  11. coach — pulled by horses
  12. branch — of a tree
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. stand — to bear
  15. pass — a permit
  16. stand — on your feet
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. 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