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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. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  4. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  5. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  6. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  7. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  8. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  9. False peace will not ________________.
  10. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  11. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  12. What do you think of the new ________________?
  13. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  14. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  15. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  16. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  17. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  18. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  19. Did you ________________ the meat?
  20. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  21. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  22. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  23. I can't ________________ this cold.
  24. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. stand — on your feet
  4. season — of the year
  5. last — final
  6. wax — to grow
  7. lash — to lash out
  8. bass — low music
  9. last — to go on
  10. stand — for spectators
  11. lash — a whip stroke
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. bass — the instrument
  14. cabinet — a cupboard
  15. season — in sport
  16. last — finally
  17. pass — a permit
  18. pass — to succeed
  19. season — to add flavour
  20. lash — an eyelash
  21. bass — the fish
  22. wax — for sculpting
  23. stand — to bear
  24. wax — in the ear

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