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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.

Make a worksheet

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: mine · wax · rule · saw · fine · stand · toast · rash

  1. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  2. Don't do anything ________________.
  3. I can't ________________ this cold.
  4. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  5. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  6. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  7. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  8. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  9. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  10. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  11. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  12. He works in a ________________ mill.
  13. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  14. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  15. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  16. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  17. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  18. She's very handy with a ________________.
  19. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  20. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  21. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  22. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  23. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  24. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — on the skin
  2. rash — hasty
  3. stand — to bear
  4. fine — high quality
  5. rash — a series
  6. wax — to grow
  7. rule — government
  8. fine — a penalty
  9. mine — an explosive
  10. stand — on your feet
  11. toast — the most admired
  12. saw — the tool
  13. saw — past of 'see'
  14. wax — for sculpting
  15. mine — for digging
  16. rule — a law
  17. fine — all right
  18. saw — the tool
  19. rule — to rule out
  20. stand — for spectators
  21. mine — belonging to me
  22. wax — in the ear
  23. toast — a drink to someone
  24. toast — bread

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