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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.

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: wax · file · bass · pass · cabinet · lean · mate · lie

  1. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  3. What do you think of the new ________________?
  4. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  5. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  6. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  7. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  8. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  9. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  10. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  11. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  12. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  13. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  14. Have you found your soul ________________?
  15. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  16. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  17. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  18. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  19. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  20. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  23. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  24. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. file — a tool
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. wax — to grow
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. lean — to rest against
  8. file — a line of people
  9. wax — in the ear
  10. pass — to spend time
  11. file — a document
  12. bass — the instrument
  13. lean — thin
  14. mate — a partner
  15. lean — to bend
  16. pass — a permit
  17. wax — for sculpting
  18. lie — to recline
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. mate — a friend
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. mate — to breed
  23. bass — the fish
  24. bass — low music

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