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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: wax · fine · bay · stem · mouse · nail · board · cabinet

  1. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  2. What do you think of the new ________________?
  3. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  4. The ________________ went through the wall.
  5. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  6. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  7. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  8. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  9. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  10. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  11. My mare is ________________ in color.
  12. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  13. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  14. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  15. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  16. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  17. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  18. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  19. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  20. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  21. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  22. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  23. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  24. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — all right
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. wax — to grow
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. board — a committee
  6. wax — in the ear
  7. board — to get on
  8. board — a flat piece
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. cabinet — a cupboard
  11. bay — a horse colour
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. fine — high quality
  15. fine — a penalty
  16. stem — of a plant
  17. bay — a part of the sea
  18. bay — to keep at bay
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. mouse — for a computer
  21. stem — to come from
  22. wax — for sculpting
  23. stem — a stem cell
  24. nail — on a finger

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