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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 · bound · wave · wax · chip · mouse · pass · bowl

  1. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  2. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  3. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  4. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  5. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  6. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  7. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  8. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  9. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  10. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  11. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  12. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  13. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  14. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  15. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  16. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  17. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  18. That was ________________ to happen.
  19. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  20. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  21. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  22. The tickets are free of ________________.
  23. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  24. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — a sudden rise
  2. pass — a permit
  3. charge — in control
  4. wax — for sculpting
  5. wave — of the sea
  6. chip — for betting
  7. chip — in a computer
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. wax — to grow
  10. bound — tied together
  11. pass — to succeed
  12. bowl — a dish
  13. wave — with your hand
  14. bound — obliged
  15. charge — electricity
  16. pass — to spend time
  17. wax — in the ear
  18. bound — certain
  19. bowl — a football final
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. bowl — to roll
  22. charge — a price
  23. mouse — for a computer
  24. chip — to eat

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