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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.

Make a worksheet

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
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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: pitcher · wave · spell · nail · wax · rush · tube · bass

  1. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  2. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  3. He is an ace ________________.
  4. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  5. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  6. The ________________ went through the wall.
  7. I'll be taking the ________________.
  8. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  11. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  12. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  13. How do you ________________ your surname?
  14. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  15. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  16. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  17. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  18. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  19. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  20. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  21. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  22. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  23. That must've been a ________________.
  24. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — the instrument
  2. rush — to hurry
  3. pitcher — in baseball
  4. wax — in the ear
  5. wave — of the sea
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. tube — the underground
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. rush — hurry
  10. wave — a sudden rise
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. nail — on a finger
  13. spell — letters
  14. wax — to grow
  15. tube — in a tire
  16. bass — the fish
  17. wax — for sculpting
  18. wave — with your hand
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. spell — magic
  21. tube — a container
  22. spell — a short time
  23. rush — a thrill
  24. bass — low music

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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