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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: board · fine · row · saw · bay · charge · wax · sharp

  1. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  2. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  3. She's very handy with a ________________.
  4. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  5. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  6. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  7. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  8. The tickets are free of ________________.
  9. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  10. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  11. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  12. He works in a ________________ mill.
  13. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  14. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  15. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  16. It's one o'clock ________________.
  17. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  18. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  19. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  20. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  21. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  22. My mare is ________________ in color.
  23. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  24. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. row — a line
  3. saw — the tool
  4. fine — high quality
  5. charge — in control
  6. saw — past of 'see'
  7. wax — for sculpting
  8. charge — a price
  9. sharp — with an edge
  10. row — a quarrel
  11. fine — all right
  12. saw — the tool
  13. sharp — clever
  14. bay — a part of the sea
  15. board — a flat piece
  16. sharp — exactly
  17. board — a committee
  18. fine — a penalty
  19. wax — to grow
  20. row — to paddle
  21. board — to get on
  22. bay — a horse colour
  23. charge — electricity
  24. wax — in the ear

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