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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. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  2. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  3. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  4. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  5. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  6. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  7. The ________________ market has crashed.
  8. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  9. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  10. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  11. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  12. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  13. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  14. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  15. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  16. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  17. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  18. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  19. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  20. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  21. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  22. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  23. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  24. ________________ games are popular in Germany.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — in the ear
  2. board — to get on
  3. stock — goods
  4. pass — to spend time
  5. pass — a permit
  6. wax — for sculpting
  7. stock — shares
  8. bank — for money
  9. stock — a soup base
  10. board — a committee
  11. racket — for tennis
  12. wake — before a funeral
  13. racket — for tennis
  14. bank — of a river
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. bank — for money
  17. racket — a loud noise
  18. wax — to grow
  19. wake — a trail
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. wake — to stop sleeping
  22. fan — to cool the air
  23. pass — to succeed
  24. board — a flat piece

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