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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: suit · board · wax · fine · plane · pass · roll · season

  1. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  2. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  3. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  6. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  7. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  8. We're on a ________________ here.
  9. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  10. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  11. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  12. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  13. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  14. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  15. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  16. When will it ________________ you to start?
  17. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  18. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  19. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  20. Did you ________________ the meat?
  21. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  22. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  23. The ________________ took off on time.
  24. Spring is a pleasant ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. fine — a penalty
  3. plane — in geometry
  4. pass — a permit
  5. pass — to succeed
  6. wax — for sculpting
  7. fine — high quality
  8. roll — on a roll
  9. season — in sport
  10. wax — to grow
  11. fine — all right
  12. board — a flat piece
  13. board — a committee
  14. suit — clothes
  15. board — to get on
  16. suit — to fit
  17. plane — a tool
  18. roll — a cake
  19. suit — in cards
  20. season — to add flavour
  21. wax — in the ear
  22. roll — a list
  23. plane — an aircraft
  24. season — of the year

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