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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: suit · current · staff · pass · track · fine · prune · wax

  1. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  2. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  3. When will it ________________ you to start?
  4. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  5. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  6. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  9. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  10. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  11. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  12. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  13. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  14. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  15. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  16. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  17. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  18. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  19. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  20. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  21. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  22. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  23. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  24. You can't go backstage without a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — a penalty
  2. wax — to grow
  3. suit — to fit
  4. staff — a stick
  5. suit — in cards
  6. fine — high quality
  7. current — of water
  8. current — happening now
  9. current — electric
  10. pass — to succeed
  11. track — a song
  12. track — a path
  13. fine — all right
  14. staff — employees
  15. prune — the fruit
  16. track — to keep track
  17. pass — to spend time
  18. staff — employees
  19. wax — in the ear
  20. wax — for sculpting
  21. prune — to trim
  22. suit — clothes
  23. prune — to trim
  24. pass — a permit

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