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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
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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: rash · wax · plane · fine · rush · coach · pop · craft

  1. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  2. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  3. The ________________ took off on time.
  4. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  5. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  6. Don't do anything ________________.
  7. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  8. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  9. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  10. We're almost out of ________________.
  11. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  12. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  13. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  14. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  15. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  16. You don't need to ________________ round.
  17. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  18. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  19. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  20. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  21. Have you met the new head ________________?
  22. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  23. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  24. That must've been a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — to hurry
  2. wax — in the ear
  3. plane — an aircraft
  4. wax — for sculpting
  5. pop — music
  6. rash — hasty
  7. craft — a skill
  8. rush — hurry
  9. rash — a series
  10. pop — soda
  11. plane — a tool
  12. craft — a handicraft
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. craft — boats
  15. wax — to grow
  16. pop — to visit
  17. coach — pulled by horses
  18. rash — on the skin
  19. fine — a penalty
  20. plane — in geometry
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. fine — high quality
  23. fine — all right
  24. rush — a thrill

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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