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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 · suit · wax · stem · ground · jam · mug · bore

  1. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  2. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  3. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  4. Where did you ________________ them?
  5. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  6. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  7. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  8. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  9. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  10. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  13. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  14. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  15. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  16. When will it ________________ you to start?
  17. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  18. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  19. There's no middle ________________.
  20. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  21. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  22. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  23. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to succeed
  2. bore — gave birth
  3. wax — to grow
  4. mug — to rob
  5. bore — to drill
  6. pass — a permit
  7. pass — to spend time
  8. stem — of a plant
  9. suit — clothes
  10. stem — to come from
  11. mug — a cup
  12. stem — a stem cell
  13. wax — in the ear
  14. ground — crushed
  15. jam — a tight spot
  16. suit — to fit
  17. jam — to spread on bread
  18. suit — in cards
  19. ground — a position
  20. jam — in traffic
  21. ground — the earth
  22. wax — for sculpting
  23. bore — to tire
  24. mug — a face

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