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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 120 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: wave · wax · rush · pitch · bay · sharp · bound · chair

  1. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  2. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  3. It's one o'clock ________________.
  4. That was ________________ to happen.
  5. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  6. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  7. That must've been a ________________.
  8. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  9. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  10. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  11. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  12. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  13. My mare is ________________ in color.
  14. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  15. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  16. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  17. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  18. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  19. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  20. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  21. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  22. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  23. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — in the ear
  2. bay — to keep at bay
  3. sharp — exactly
  4. bound — certain
  5. bound — tied together
  6. chair — to sit on
  7. rush — a thrill
  8. wave — with your hand
  9. chair — a professorship
  10. pitch — completely
  11. bound — obliged
  12. sharp — clever
  13. bay — a horse colour
  14. wax — for sculpting
  15. pitch — a sports field
  16. rush — to hurry
  17. sharp — with an edge
  18. wax — to grow
  19. wave — a sudden rise
  20. bay — a part of the sea
  21. wave — of the sea
  22. pitch — a sales talk
  23. chair — a leader
  24. rush — hurry

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