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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: stem · wake · pop · toast · deal · rash · season · wax

  1. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  2. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  3. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  4. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  5. You don't need to ________________ round.
  6. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  7. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  8. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  9. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  10. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  11. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  12. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  13. Don't do anything ________________.
  14. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  15. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  16. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  17. We're almost out of ________________.
  18. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  19. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  20. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  21. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  22. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  23. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  24. Did you ________________ the meat?

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

Answer key

  1. deal — to handle
  2. wax — for sculpting
  3. pop — music
  4. wake — to stop sleeping
  5. pop — to visit
  6. wake — before a funeral
  7. toast — the most admired
  8. season — in sport
  9. season — of the year
  10. deal — a big deal
  11. rash — a series
  12. deal — an agreement
  13. rash — hasty
  14. stem — to come from
  15. stem — of a plant
  16. toast — bread
  17. pop — soda
  18. rash — on the skin
  19. stem — a stem cell
  20. wax — in the ear
  21. wake — a trail
  22. toast — a drink to someone
  23. wax — to grow
  24. season — to add flavour

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