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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: wax · pass · ruler · can · ball · bulb · track · mine

  1. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  2. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  3. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  4. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  8. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  9. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  10. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  11. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  12. The light ________________ burned out.
  13. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  14. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  15. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  16. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  17. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. The King held a masked ________________.
  23. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  24. You can't go backstage without a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. ruler — a monarch
  3. mine — an explosive
  4. wax — in the ear
  5. can — to be able to
  6. bulb — for light
  7. track — a path
  8. wax — for sculpting
  9. wax — to grow
  10. ball — a round shape
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. bulb — for light
  13. track — to keep track
  14. mine — for digging
  15. ball — a great time
  16. track — a song
  17. pass — to succeed
  18. can — a tin
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. mine — belonging to me
  21. can — a tin
  22. ball — a dance
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. pass — a permit

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