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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
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: patient · perch · fine · straw · drill · pass · charge · wax

  1. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  3. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  4. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  5. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  6. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  7. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  8. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  9. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  10. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  11. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  12. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  13. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  14. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  15. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  16. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  17. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  18. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  19. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  20. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  21. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  22. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  23. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  24. The tickets are free of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. perch — for a bird
  3. straw — a straw man
  4. perch — for a bird
  5. drill — the tool
  6. pass — to spend time
  7. wax — in the ear
  8. fine — a penalty
  9. pass — a permit
  10. patient — calm and waiting
  11. drill — army training
  12. wax — for sculpting
  13. wax — to grow
  14. pass — to succeed
  15. drill — a practice
  16. patient — a sick person
  17. charge — electricity
  18. straw — to clutch at straws
  19. fine — high quality
  20. perch — the fish
  21. straw — dry grass
  22. fine — all right
  23. patient — a sick person
  24. charge — a price

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