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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: pass · firm · wax · board · key · scale · can · perch

  1. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  6. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  7. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  8. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  9. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  12. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  13. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  14. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  17. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  20. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  21. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  22. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  23. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  24. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — size or range
  2. can — a tin
  3. board — a committee
  4. key — in music
  5. perch — the fish
  6. board — a flat piece
  7. wax — to grow
  8. perch — for a bird
  9. firm — decided
  10. can — to be able to
  11. wax — in the ear
  12. pass — a permit
  13. firm — steady
  14. pass — to succeed
  15. can — a tin
  16. key — for a lock
  17. pass — to spend time
  18. key — the most important part
  19. board — to get on
  20. scale — in music
  21. perch — for a bird
  22. wax — for sculpting
  23. firm — a company
  24. scale — for weighing

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