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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: pass · date · land · jam · wax · file · leaves · bowl

  1. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  2. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  3. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  4. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  5. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  6. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  7. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  8. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  9. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  10. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  11. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  12. When are we going to ________________?
  13. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  14. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  15. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  18. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  19. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  20. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  21. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  22. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  23. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  24. Have you settled on a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. jam — in traffic
  3. pass — a permit
  4. file — a document
  5. leaves — to go away
  6. wax — to grow
  7. land — a country
  8. bowl — to roll
  9. jam — to spread on bread
  10. leaves — of a tree
  11. bowl — a dish
  12. land — to come down
  13. wax — for sculpting
  14. bowl — a football final
  15. pass — to succeed
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. file — a line of people
  18. date — on the calendar
  19. land — ground
  20. wax — in the ear
  21. file — a tool
  22. jam — a tight spot
  23. date — the fruit
  24. date — on the calendar

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