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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 120 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: fine · deal · mug · hand · pass · wax · mouse · root

  1. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  4. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  5. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  6. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  7. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  8. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  9. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  10. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  11. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  12. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  13. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  14. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  15. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  16. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  17. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  18. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  19. Where did you ________________ them?
  20. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  21. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  22. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  23. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  24. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — to grow
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. mug — a cup
  4. deal — to handle
  5. hand — part of the body
  6. deal — an agreement
  7. mouse — for a computer
  8. deal — a big deal
  9. pass — to succeed
  10. root — of a plant
  11. root — of a word
  12. pass — a permit
  13. fine — all right
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. wax — in the ear
  16. hand — in cards
  17. fine — a penalty
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. mug — to rob
  20. mug — a face
  21. hand — help
  22. fine — high quality
  23. wax — for sculpting
  24. root — the cause

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