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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 · charge · rock · pound · game · pass · fan · cue

  1. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  2. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  5. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  6. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  7. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  8. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  9. The tickets are free of ________________.
  10. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  11. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  12. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  13. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  14. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  15. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  16. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  17. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  18. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  19. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  20. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  21. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  22. That was a fun ________________.
  23. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  24. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — to move gently
  2. wax — to grow
  3. rock — a stone
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. rock — music
  6. fan — to cool the air
  7. game — wild animals
  8. pass — to spend time
  9. charge — a price
  10. game — a kind of play
  11. pass — a permit
  12. wax — for sculpting
  13. cue — for pool
  14. cue — a signal
  15. wax — in the ear
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. cue — a hint
  18. charge — in control
  19. pass — to succeed
  20. pound — for dogs
  21. charge — electricity
  22. game — a match
  23. pound — to hit hard
  24. pound — a weight

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