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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: dip · jam · saw · bass · wax · can · coach · scale

  1. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  2. She's very handy with a ________________.
  3. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  4. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  5. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  6. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  7. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  8. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  9. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  10. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  11. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  12. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  13. He works in a ________________ mill.
  14. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  15. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  16. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  17. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. Have you met the new head ________________?
  23. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  24. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — pulled by horses
  2. saw — the tool
  3. bass — the instrument
  4. scale — size or range
  5. jam — a tight spot
  6. scale — for weighing
  7. jam — in traffic
  8. saw — past of 'see'
  9. dip — to sink
  10. wax — to grow
  11. dip — to dunk
  12. wax — in the ear
  13. saw — the tool
  14. bass — low music
  15. dip — a sauce
  16. wax — for sculpting
  17. jam — to spread on bread
  18. can — a tin
  19. can — to be able to
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. can — a tin
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. bass — the fish
  24. scale — in music

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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