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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: patient · season · charge · pass · plane · wound · wax · pop

  1. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  2. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  3. The tickets are free of ________________.
  4. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  5. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  6. We're almost out of ________________.
  7. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  8. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  9. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  10. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  11. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  12. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  13. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  14. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  15. The ________________ took off on time.
  16. Did you ________________ the meat?
  17. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  18. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  19. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  20. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  21. You don't need to ________________ round.
  22. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  23. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  24. This looks like a gunshot ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. patient — calm and waiting
  3. charge — a price
  4. season — in sport
  5. charge — in control
  6. pop — soda
  7. patient — a sick person
  8. season — of the year
  9. pass — to succeed
  10. charge — electricity
  11. pass — a permit
  12. pass — to spend time
  13. pop — music
  14. wound — an injury
  15. plane — an aircraft
  16. season — to add flavour
  17. wax — in the ear
  18. plane — in geometry
  19. wound — past of 'wind'
  20. wax — for sculpting
  21. pop — to visit
  22. patient — a sick person
  23. wax — to grow
  24. wound — an injury

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