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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.

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: perch · pass · cap · pitcher · coach · wax · suit · wave

  1. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  2. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  3. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  4. When will it ________________ you to start?
  5. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  6. He is an ace ________________.
  7. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  8. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  9. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  12. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  13. Have you met the new head ________________?
  14. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  15. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  16. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  17. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  18. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  19. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  20. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  21. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  22. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  23. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  24. Fill up this ________________ with water.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — a permit
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. pass — to spend time
  4. suit — to fit
  5. cap — a lid
  6. pitcher — in baseball
  7. perch — for a bird
  8. pass — to succeed
  9. perch — the fish
  10. suit — in cards
  11. cap — of ice
  12. coach — pulled by horses
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. suit — clothes
  15. wax — to grow
  16. wave — a sudden rise
  17. wax — for sculpting
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. wave — of the sea
  20. perch — for a bird
  21. wax — in the ear
  22. cap — a hat
  23. wave — with your hand
  24. pitcher — a jug

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