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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: rock · can · pass · cap · ground · rush · present · wax

  1. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. That must've been a ________________.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  6. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  9. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  10. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  11. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  12. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  13. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  14. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  15. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  16. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  17. There's no middle ________________.
  18. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  24. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.

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

Answer key

  1. cap — of ice
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. rush — a thrill
  4. can — to be able to
  5. rush — to hurry
  6. ground — crushed
  7. can — a tin
  8. wax — to grow
  9. pass — a permit
  10. wax — in the ear
  11. pass — to succeed
  12. present — a gift
  13. present — there
  14. wax — for sculpting
  15. ground — the earth
  16. rock — a stone
  17. ground — a position
  18. rock — music
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. cap — a lid
  21. can — a tin
  22. rush — hurry
  23. cap — a hat
  24. present — the time now

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