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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: prune · pass · date · tube · wax · deal · rock · mine

  1. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  4. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  5. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  6. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  7. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  10. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  11. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  12. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  13. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  14. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  15. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  16. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  17. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  18. I'll be taking the ________________.
  19. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  20. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  21. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  22. Have you settled on a ________________?
  23. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  24. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — a permit
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. tube — a container
  4. prune — the fruit
  5. pass — to succeed
  6. rock — a stone
  7. deal — a big deal
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. mine — for digging
  10. mine — belonging to me
  11. mine — an explosive
  12. date — on the calendar
  13. prune — to trim
  14. rock — music
  15. wax — in the ear
  16. tube — in a tire
  17. wax — to grow
  18. tube — the underground
  19. date — the fruit
  20. deal — to handle
  21. wax — for sculpting
  22. date — on the calendar
  23. deal — an agreement
  24. prune — to trim

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