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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.

Make a worksheet

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: nail · wax · can · date · bass · ball · season · pitcher

  1. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  2. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  3. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  4. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  7. Have you settled on a ________________?
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  10. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  11. He is an ace ________________.
  12. The King held a masked ________________.
  13. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  14. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  15. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  16. Did you ________________ the meat?
  17. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  18. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  19. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  22. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  23. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  24. The ________________ went through the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. date — the fruit
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. season — of the year
  4. bass — the fish
  5. can — to be able to
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. date — on the calendar
  8. can — a tin
  9. ball — a great time
  10. season — in sport
  11. pitcher — in baseball
  12. ball — a dance
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. wax — in the ear
  15. bass — low music
  16. season — to add flavour
  17. ball — a round shape
  18. date — on the calendar
  19. wax — to grow
  20. can — a tin
  21. wax — for sculpting
  22. nail — on a finger
  23. bass — the instrument
  24. nail — for a hammer

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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