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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. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  4. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. When will it ________________ you to start?
  7. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  8. Don't do anything ________________.
  9. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  10. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  13. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  14. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  15. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  19. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  20. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  21. That was ________________ to happen.
  22. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  23. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  24. I seem to be developing a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — a series
  2. rock — a stone
  3. march — the month
  4. pass — to succeed
  5. can — a tin
  6. suit — to fit
  7. wax — in the ear
  8. rash — hasty
  9. rock — to move gently
  10. bound — obliged
  11. can — a tin
  12. pass — to spend time
  13. suit — clothes
  14. pass — a permit
  15. wax — to grow
  16. rock — music
  17. can — to be able to
  18. march — the month
  19. bound — tied together
  20. wax — for sculpting
  21. bound — certain
  22. suit — in cards
  23. march — music
  24. rash — on the skin

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