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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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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: stand · toast · saw · net · suit · mug · trunk · wax

  1. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. She's very handy with a ________________.
  3. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  4. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  5. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  6. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  7. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  8. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  9. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  10. He works in a ________________ mill.
  11. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  12. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  13. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  14. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  15. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  16. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  17. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  18. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  19. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  20. I can't ________________ this cold.
  21. Where did you ________________ them?
  22. When will it ________________ you to start?
  23. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  24. The moon will ________________ and wane.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. saw — the tool
  3. suit — clothes
  4. wax — in the ear
  5. toast — a drink to someone
  6. net — in sport
  7. net — for catching
  8. suit — in cards
  9. wax — for sculpting
  10. saw — the tool
  11. trunk — of an elephant
  12. mug — a face
  13. mug — a cup
  14. toast — the most admired
  15. toast — bread
  16. saw — past of 'see'
  17. trunk — of a tree
  18. stand — on your feet
  19. trunk — of a car
  20. stand — to bear
  21. mug — to rob
  22. suit — to fit
  23. net — after costs
  24. wax — to grow

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