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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 120 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. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  2. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  3. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. I'll be taking the ________________.
  6. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  7. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  8. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  9. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  10. When was this ________________ built?
  11. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  12. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  13. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  14. I can't ________________ this cold.
  15. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  16. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  17. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  18. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  19. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  20. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  21. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  22. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  23. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  24. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — an agreement
  2. stand — for spectators
  3. wave — a sudden rise
  4. pass — a permit
  5. tube — the underground
  6. wave — with your hand
  7. branch — of a bank
  8. wax — to grow
  9. pass — to spend time
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. tube — a container
  12. wave — of the sea
  13. branch — a division
  14. stand — to bear
  15. stand — on your feet
  16. pass — to succeed
  17. temple — side of the head
  18. wax — in the ear
  19. deal — a big deal
  20. branch — of a tree
  21. tube — in a tire
  22. deal — to handle
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. wax — for sculpting

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