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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: chip · wax · suit · net · track · present · stem · rash

  1. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  2. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  3. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  4. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  5. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  6. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  7. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  8. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  9. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  10. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  11. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  12. When will it ________________ you to start?
  13. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  14. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  15. Don't do anything ________________.
  16. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  17. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  18. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  19. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  20. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  21. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  22. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  23. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  24. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.

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

Answer key

  1. net — in sport
  2. rash — on the skin
  3. present — a gift
  4. rash — a series
  5. stem — a stem cell
  6. stem — of a plant
  7. track — a song
  8. track — to keep track
  9. wax — in the ear
  10. wax — to grow
  11. chip — in a computer
  12. suit — to fit
  13. suit — in cards
  14. net — after costs
  15. rash — hasty
  16. present — there
  17. present — the time now
  18. chip — to eat
  19. wax — for sculpting
  20. stem — to come from
  21. chip — for betting
  22. suit — clothes
  23. net — for catching
  24. track — a path

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