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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. I'll be taking the ________________.
  2. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  3. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  4. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  5. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  6. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  7. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  8. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  9. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  10. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  11. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  12. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  13. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  14. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  15. She's very handy with a ________________.
  16. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  17. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  18. Have you settled on a ________________?
  19. He works in a ________________ mill.
  20. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  23. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  24. Can you turn the ________________ on?

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

Answer key

  1. tube — the underground
  2. wax — in the ear
  3. jam — in traffic
  4. pass — to spend time
  5. date — the fruit
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. jam — to spread on bread
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. date — on the calendar
  11. tube — in a tire
  12. jam — a tight spot
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. tube — a container
  15. saw — the tool
  16. ruler — a monarch
  17. saw — past of 'see'
  18. date — on the calendar
  19. saw — the tool
  20. pass — a permit
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. wax — to grow
  23. wax — for sculpting
  24. fan — to cool the air

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