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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: pass · swing · wax · face · roll · fine · club · wave

  1. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  2. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  3. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  4. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  5. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  6. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  7. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  8. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  9. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  10. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  11. David sat on the ________________.
  12. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  13. We're on a ________________ here.
  14. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  15. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  16. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  17. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  18. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  19. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  20. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  21. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  22. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  23. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  24. She had a strange look on her ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. swing — in golf
  2. fine — high quality
  3. pass — to spend time
  4. face — to confront
  5. club — a group
  6. club — for dancing
  7. swing — music
  8. wax — in the ear
  9. wave — of the sea
  10. roll — a list
  11. swing — to play on
  12. wax — for sculpting
  13. roll — on a roll
  14. wax — to grow
  15. fine — all right
  16. wave — with your hand
  17. club — for golf
  18. wave — a sudden rise
  19. face — to point toward
  20. pass — to succeed
  21. pass — a permit
  22. roll — a cake
  23. fine — a penalty
  24. face — part of the head

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