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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. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  2. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  3. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  4. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  5. He is an ace ________________.
  6. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  7. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  8. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  9. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  10. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  11. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  12. Have you settled on a ________________?
  13. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  14. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  15. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  16. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  17. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  18. What do you think of the new ________________?
  19. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  20. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  21. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  22. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  23. I can't ________________ this cold.
  24. ________________ games are popular in Germany.

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

Answer key

  1. race — the arms race
  2. pass — to succeed
  3. race — a contest
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. pitcher — in baseball
  6. cabinet — a cupboard
  7. board — a committee
  8. date — the fruit
  9. stand — for spectators
  10. race — humankind
  11. pass — to spend time
  12. date — on the calendar
  13. wax — in the ear
  14. wax — for sculpting
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. stand — on your feet
  17. pass — a permit
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. date — on the calendar
  21. wax — to grow
  22. board — to get on
  23. stand — to bear
  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