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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.

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: row · pound · wax · lie · can · wave · charge · mark

  1. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  2. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  3. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  4. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  5. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  6. The tickets are free of ________________.
  7. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  8. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  15. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  16. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  17. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  18. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  19. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  20. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  21. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  22. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  23. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  24. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — a sudden rise
  2. wax — for sculpting
  3. wave — of the sea
  4. mark — a grade
  5. wax — in the ear
  6. charge — a price
  7. lie — to recline
  8. charge — electricity
  9. can — a tin
  10. pound — a weight
  11. can — a tin
  12. charge — in control
  13. can — to be able to
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. wax — to grow
  16. row — to paddle
  17. wave — with your hand
  18. mark — a trace
  19. row — a quarrel
  20. mark — to pay attention
  21. pound — to hit hard
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. row — a line
  24. pound — for dogs

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