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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. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  2. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  3. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  4. He works in a ________________ mill.
  5. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  6. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  7. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  8. She's very handy with a ________________.
  9. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  10. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  11. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  12. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  13. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  14. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  15. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  16. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  17. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  18. That was ________________ to happen.
  19. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  20. I'll be taking the ________________.
  21. Where did you ________________ them?
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — to grow
  2. pass — a permit
  3. mug — a cup
  4. saw — the tool
  5. pass — to succeed
  6. wake — a trail
  7. tube — a container
  8. saw — the tool
  9. saw — past of 'see'
  10. pass — to spend time
  11. wake — to stop sleeping
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. bound — obliged
  14. wax — for sculpting
  15. wake — before a funeral
  16. tube — in a tire
  17. calf — of the leg
  18. bound — certain
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. tube — the underground
  21. mug — to rob
  22. bound — tied together
  23. wax — in the ear
  24. mug — a face

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