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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.

Words on the sheet
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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 · rash · present · stock · wax · row · mug · can

  1. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  2. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  5. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  6. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  7. Where did you ________________ them?
  8. The ________________ market has crashed.
  9. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  10. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  11. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  12. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  13. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  14. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  17. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  18. Don't do anything ________________.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  21. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  22. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  23. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  24. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.

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

Answer key

  1. row — to paddle
  2. present — the time now
  3. can — to be able to
  4. wax — in the ear
  5. mug — a cup
  6. wax — for sculpting
  7. mug — to rob
  8. stock — shares
  9. wax — to grow
  10. pass — to succeed
  11. stock — goods
  12. pass — to spend time
  13. mug — a face
  14. rash — on the skin
  15. can — a tin
  16. stock — a soup base
  17. present — a gift
  18. rash — hasty
  19. can — a tin
  20. pass — a permit
  21. row — a quarrel
  22. row — a line
  23. rash — a series
  24. present — there

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