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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.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: fan · bass · deal · hide · wax · pass

  1. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  2. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  3. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  4. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  5. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  6. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  7. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  8. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  9. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  10. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  11. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  12. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  13. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  14. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  15. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  16. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  17. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  18. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.

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

Answer key

  1. fan — to cool the air
  2. bass — the instrument
  3. deal — to handle
  4. deal — a big deal
  5. pass — to spend time
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. wax — in the ear
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. bass — the fish
  10. pass — a permit
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. deal — an agreement
  13. wax — for sculpting
  14. wax — to grow
  15. pass — to succeed
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. hide — animal skin
  18. bass — low music

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