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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: wax · bound · bark · wave · rock · charge · saw · mate

  1. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  3. That was ________________ to happen.
  4. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  5. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  6. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  7. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  8. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  9. The tickets are free of ________________.
  10. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  11. He works in a ________________ mill.
  12. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  13. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  14. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  15. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  16. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  17. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  18. Have you found your soul ________________?
  19. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  20. She's very handy with a ________________.
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  23. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  24. The moon will ________________ and wane.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. bound — obliged
  3. bound — certain
  4. wax — for sculpting
  5. mate — a friend
  6. bark — to shout
  7. charge — electricity
  8. wave — of the sea
  9. charge — a price
  10. mate — to breed
  11. saw — the tool
  12. charge — in control
  13. wave — with your hand
  14. bark — of a tree
  15. saw — past of 'see'
  16. rock — to move gently
  17. bound — tied together
  18. mate — a partner
  19. wax — in the ear
  20. saw — the tool
  21. rock — music
  22. bark — a dog's sound
  23. wave — a sudden rise
  24. wax — to grow

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