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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: spell · wax · pitcher · can · march · fan · vault · cabinet

  1. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  2. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  3. How do you ________________ your surname?
  4. He is an ace ________________.
  5. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  6. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  7. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  11. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  12. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  13. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  14. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  15. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  16. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  19. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  20. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  21. What do you think of the new ________________?
  22. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  23. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  24. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. fan — a supporter
  2. cabinet — a cupboard
  3. spell — letters
  4. pitcher — in baseball
  5. vault — an arched ceiling
  6. vault — in gymnastics
  7. wax — for sculpting
  8. can — a tin
  9. can — to be able to
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. march — the month
  12. march — the month
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. fan — to cool the air
  15. vault — a safe
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. can — a tin
  18. wax — to grow
  19. march — music
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. spell — magic
  23. spell — a short time
  24. wax — in the ear

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