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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: wax · track · spell · mate · can · jam · charge · perch

  1. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  2. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  3. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  4. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  5. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  6. The tickets are free of ________________.
  7. How do you ________________ your surname?
  8. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  11. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  12. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  13. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  14. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  15. Have you found your soul ________________?
  16. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  19. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  20. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  21. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  22. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  23. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. track — to keep track
  2. track — a path
  3. perch — for a bird
  4. perch — for a bird
  5. spell — magic
  6. charge — a price
  7. spell — letters
  8. mate — to breed
  9. can — a tin
  10. wax — to grow
  11. perch — the fish
  12. charge — in control
  13. mate — a friend
  14. spell — a short time
  15. mate — a partner
  16. jam — a tight spot
  17. can — a tin
  18. track — a song
  19. charge — electricity
  20. jam — in traffic
  21. wax — in the ear
  22. wax — for sculpting
  23. jam — to spread on bread
  24. can — to be able to

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