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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.

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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 · mouse · cabinet · fine · can · saw · patient · swing

  1. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  2. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  3. She's very handy with a ________________.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. He works in a ________________ mill.
  6. David sat on the ________________.
  7. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  8. What do you think of the new ________________?
  9. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  10. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  11. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  12. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  13. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  14. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  19. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  20. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  21. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  22. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  23. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  24. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — for sculpting
  2. fine — high quality
  3. saw — the tool
  4. can — a tin
  5. saw — the tool
  6. swing — to play on
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. patient — a sick person
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. swing — in golf
  12. cabinet — a cupboard
  13. saw — past of 'see'
  14. swing — music
  15. can — to be able to
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. can — a tin
  18. wax — to grow
  19. wax — in the ear
  20. fine — all right
  21. fine — a penalty
  22. patient — a sick person
  23. mouse — for a computer
  24. patient — calm and waiting

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