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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: shower · stand · date · pass · wax · bulb · foot · rock

  1. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  5. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  6. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  7. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  8. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  9. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  10. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  11. I've got to change the light ________________.
  12. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  13. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  14. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  15. Have you settled on a ________________?
  16. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  17. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  18. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  21. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  22. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  23. I can't ________________ this cold.
  24. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.

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

Answer key

  1. shower — to wash
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. rock — a stone
  4. foot — part of the body
  5. wax — for sculpting
  6. pass — to succeed
  7. stand — for spectators
  8. foot — a measure
  9. pass — a permit
  10. bulb — of a plant
  11. bulb — for light
  12. date — the fruit
  13. rock — music
  14. stand — on your feet
  15. date — on the calendar
  16. shower — a meteor shower
  17. wax — in the ear
  18. rock — to move gently
  19. bulb — for light
  20. wax — to grow
  21. date — on the calendar
  22. shower — rain
  23. stand — to bear
  24. foot — the bottom

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