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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: stand · mark · rash · wave · ball · wax · can · pitch

  1. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  2. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  3. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  4. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  5. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  6. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  9. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  10. I can't ________________ this cold.
  11. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  12. Don't do anything ________________.
  13. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  14. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  15. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  16. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  17. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  21. The King held a masked ________________.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a great time
  2. wave — with your hand
  3. wax — in the ear
  4. pitch — completely
  5. mark — a trace
  6. pitch — a sports field
  7. mark — a grade
  8. wave — a sudden rise
  9. stand — on your feet
  10. stand — to bear
  11. stand — for spectators
  12. rash — hasty
  13. ball — a round shape
  14. wax — for sculpting
  15. wave — of the sea
  16. pitch — a sales talk
  17. rash — on the skin
  18. mark — to pay attention
  19. can — a tin
  20. wax — to grow
  21. ball — a dance
  22. can — a tin
  23. rash — a series
  24. can — to be able to

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