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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: leaves · wax · jam · rash · bore · stick · pitcher · fall

  1. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  2. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  3. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  4. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  5. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  6. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  7. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  8. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  9. He is an ace ________________.
  10. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  11. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  12. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  13. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  14. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  15. Don't do anything ________________.
  16. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  17. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  18. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  19. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  20. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  21. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  22. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  23. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  24. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to drill
  2. bore — gave birth
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. jam — in traffic
  5. stick — a piece of wood
  6. jam — to spread on bread
  7. rash — a series
  8. leaves — lets stay
  9. pitcher — in baseball
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. fall — the season
  12. wax — in the ear
  13. stick — a piece of wood
  14. leaves — to go away
  15. rash — hasty
  16. fall — to drop
  17. wax — to grow
  18. wax — for sculpting
  19. leaves — of a tree
  20. fall — to drop
  21. jam — a tight spot
  22. rash — on the skin
  23. bore — to tire
  24. stick — to attach or keep to

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