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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: charge · wax · rock · mate · season · file · straw · jam

  1. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  2. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  3. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  4. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  5. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  6. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  7. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  8. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  9. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  10. Did you ________________ the meat?
  11. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  12. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  13. The tickets are free of ________________.
  14. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  15. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  16. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  17. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  18. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  19. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  20. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  21. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  22. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  23. Have you found your soul ________________?
  24. Spring is a pleasant ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. straw — dry grass
  2. file — a document
  3. file — a line of people
  4. jam — in traffic
  5. file — a tool
  6. jam — to spread on bread
  7. season — in sport
  8. wax — in the ear
  9. charge — in control
  10. season — to add flavour
  11. charge — electricity
  12. mate — to breed
  13. charge — a price
  14. rock — to move gently
  15. straw — to clutch at straws
  16. jam — a tight spot
  17. rock — music
  18. wax — for sculpting
  19. mate — a friend
  20. straw — a straw man
  21. wax — to grow
  22. rock — a stone
  23. mate — a partner
  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