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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
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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: pop · mouse · wax · can · tube · club · ground · pitcher

  1. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  2. We're almost out of ________________.
  3. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  6. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  7. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  8. I'll be taking the ________________.
  9. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  12. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  13. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  14. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  15. He is an ace ________________.
  16. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  17. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  18. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  19. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  20. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. There's no middle ________________.
  23. You don't need to ________________ round.
  24. Should I buy a wireless ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. wax — to grow
  2. pop — soda
  3. wax — in the ear
  4. can — to be able to
  5. club — for golf
  6. wax — for sculpting
  7. tube — a container
  8. tube — the underground
  9. club — for dancing
  10. can — a tin
  11. ground — crushed
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. ground — the earth
  14. club — a group
  15. pitcher — in baseball
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. pop — music
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. tube — in a tire
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. can — a tin
  22. ground — a position
  23. pop — to visit
  24. mouse — for a computer

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