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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 116 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: cabinet · coach · wax · charge · prune · fine · pitch · stand

  1. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  2. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  3. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  4. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  5. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  6. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  7. The tickets are free of ________________.
  8. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  9. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  10. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  11. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  12. What do you think of the new ________________?
  13. Have you met the new head ________________?
  14. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  15. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  16. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  17. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  18. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  19. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  20. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  21. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  22. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  23. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  24. I can't ________________ this cold.

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — a sports field
  2. fine — high quality
  3. prune — to trim
  4. wax — in the ear
  5. prune — to trim
  6. wax — to grow
  7. charge — a price
  8. fine — a penalty
  9. wax — for sculpting
  10. charge — electricity
  11. stand — for spectators
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. cabinet — a cupboard
  15. prune — the fruit
  16. charge — in control
  17. stand — on your feet
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. pitch — a sales talk
  20. pitch — completely
  21. fine — all right
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. coach — pulled by horses
  24. stand — to bear

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