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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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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: wax · chip · pass · cabinet · ruler · toast · roll · fine

  1. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  2. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  3. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  4. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  5. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  6. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  7. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  8. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  9. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  10. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  11. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  12. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  13. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  14. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  15. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  16. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  17. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  18. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  19. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  20. What do you think of the new ________________?
  21. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  22. We're on a ________________ here.
  23. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  24. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — to eat
  2. fine — all right
  3. pass — a permit
  4. toast — a drink to someone
  5. pass — to succeed
  6. fine — a penalty
  7. cabinet — a cupboard
  8. fine — high quality
  9. wax — to grow
  10. toast — the most admired
  11. roll — a list
  12. ruler — a monarch
  13. toast — bread
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. pass — to spend time
  16. chip — in a computer
  17. roll — a cake
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. wax — in the ear
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. roll — on a roll
  23. wax — for sculpting
  24. chip — for betting

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