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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: wax · perch · season · pass · chip · rest · bat · bass

  1. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  2. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  3. Did you ________________ the meat?
  4. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  5. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  6. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  7. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  8. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  9. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  10. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  11. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  12. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  13. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  14. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  15. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  16. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  17. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  18. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  19. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  20. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  21. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  22. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  23. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  24. The moon will ________________ and wane.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. rest — what's left
  3. season — to add flavour
  4. chip — for betting
  5. perch — for a bird
  6. bass — the fish
  7. rest — what's left
  8. season — of the year
  9. season — in sport
  10. bass — the instrument
  11. chip — in a computer
  12. wax — for sculpting
  13. bat — for baseball
  14. pass — to succeed
  15. perch — the fish
  16. bat — in an idiom
  17. pass — a permit
  18. bass — low music
  19. bat — the animal
  20. rest — a break
  21. wax — in the ear
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. chip — to eat
  24. wax — to grow

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