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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.

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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: pop · rock · mine · fine · rest · wax · suit · toast

  1. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  2. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  3. We're almost out of ________________.
  4. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  5. You don't need to ________________ round.
  6. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  7. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  10. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  11. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  12. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  13. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  14. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  15. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  16. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  17. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  18. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  19. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  20. When will it ________________ you to start?
  21. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  22. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  23. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  24. The moon will ________________ and wane.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — for sculpting
  2. fine — a penalty
  3. pop — soda
  4. rock — music
  5. pop — to visit
  6. rest — a break
  7. mine — for digging
  8. rock — a stone
  9. rock — to move gently
  10. pop — music
  11. fine — all right
  12. suit — in cards
  13. rest — what's left
  14. rest — what's left
  15. fine — high quality
  16. suit — clothes
  17. mine — an explosive
  18. toast — bread
  19. toast — a drink to someone
  20. suit — to fit
  21. wax — in the ear
  22. toast — the most admired
  23. mine — belonging to me
  24. wax — to grow

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