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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 120 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 · foot · file · plane · can · mate · wax · nail

  1. The ________________ went through the wall.
  2. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  3. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  6. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  9. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  10. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  11. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  12. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  13. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  14. The ________________ took off on time.
  15. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  16. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  17. Have you found your soul ________________?
  18. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  19. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  22. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  23. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  24. I have a corn on my right ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. pass — a permit
  3. wax — for sculpting
  4. can — a tin
  5. file — a document
  6. nail — on a finger
  7. can — a tin
  8. wax — in the ear
  9. file — a tool
  10. mate — a friend
  11. pass — to succeed
  12. foot — the bottom
  13. foot — a measure
  14. plane — an aircraft
  15. wax — to grow
  16. plane — a tool
  17. mate — a partner
  18. mate — to breed
  19. plane — in geometry
  20. can — to be able to
  21. file — a line of people
  22. pass — to spend time
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. foot — part of the body

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