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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: fine · wax · arm · cap · coach · saw · track · suit

  1. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  2. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  3. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  4. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  5. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  6. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  7. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  8. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  9. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  10. My father caught me by the ________________.
  11. When will it ________________ you to start?
  12. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  13. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  14. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  15. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  16. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  17. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  18. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  19. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  20. Have you met the new head ________________?
  21. He works in a ________________ mill.
  22. She's very handy with a ________________.
  23. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  24. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.

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

Answer key

  1. track — a song
  2. fine — high quality
  3. wax — for sculpting
  4. coach — pulled by horses
  5. saw — past of 'see'
  6. arm — part of the body
  7. wax — to grow
  8. fine — a penalty
  9. fine — all right
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. suit — to fit
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. cap — a hat
  14. suit — clothes
  15. arm — a part of something
  16. track — to keep track
  17. wax — in the ear
  18. suit — in cards
  19. cap — of ice
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. saw — the tool
  22. saw — the tool
  23. cap — a lid
  24. track — a path

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