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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: saw · hand · wax · track · pitcher · bulb · scale · mug

  1. He works in a ________________ mill.
  2. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  4. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  5. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  6. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  7. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  8. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  9. I've got to change the light ________________.
  10. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  11. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  12. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  13. He is an ace ________________.
  14. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  15. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  16. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  17. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  18. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  19. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  20. Where did you ________________ them?
  21. She's very handy with a ________________.
  22. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  23. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  24. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. bulb — for light
  3. scale — size or range
  4. scale — for weighing
  5. hand — in cards
  6. hand — part of the body
  7. scale — in music
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. bulb — for light
  10. saw — past of 'see'
  11. hand — help
  12. track — a song
  13. pitcher — in baseball
  14. track — to keep track
  15. wax — to grow
  16. mug — a cup
  17. mug — a face
  18. bulb — of a plant
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. mug — to rob
  21. saw — the tool
  22. wax — for sculpting
  23. track — a path
  24. wax — in the ear

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