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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
468
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: pass · chip · wax · wave · board · land · cap · coach

  1. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  2. When are we going to ________________?
  3. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  4. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  5. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  6. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  7. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  8. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  9. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  10. Have you met the new head ________________?
  11. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  12. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  13. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  14. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  15. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  16. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  17. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  18. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  19. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  20. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  21. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  22. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  23. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  24. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — for betting
  2. land — to come down
  3. pass — to spend time
  4. cap — a hat
  5. land — ground
  6. pass — to succeed
  7. wave — with your hand
  8. wave — a sudden rise
  9. chip — to eat
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. cap — of ice
  12. wax — for sculpting
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. wax — to grow
  15. board — a flat piece
  16. chip — in a computer
  17. board — to get on
  18. wax — in the ear
  19. coach — pulled by horses
  20. cap — a lid
  21. pass — a permit
  22. land — a country
  23. wave — of the sea
  24. board — a committee

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