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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: track · fine · wake · spell · prune · deal · wax · patient

  1. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  2. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  3. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  4. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  5. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  6. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  7. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  8. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  9. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  10. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  11. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  12. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  13. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  14. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  15. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  16. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  17. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  18. How do you ________________ your surname?
  19. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  20. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  21. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  22. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  23. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  24. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — a sick person
  2. fine — high quality
  3. wax — for sculpting
  4. wax — to grow
  5. fine — a penalty
  6. patient — a sick person
  7. wake — to stop sleeping
  8. track — a path
  9. spell — a short time
  10. deal — an agreement
  11. prune — to trim
  12. deal — a big deal
  13. spell — magic
  14. track — to keep track
  15. fine — all right
  16. prune — the fruit
  17. prune — to trim
  18. spell — letters
  19. track — a song
  20. deal — to handle
  21. wake — before a funeral
  22. patient — calm and waiting
  23. wax — in the ear
  24. wake — a trail

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