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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
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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: can · patient · mark · board · rash · club · staff · wax

  1. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  2. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  5. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  6. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  7. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  8. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  11. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  16. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  17. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  18. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  19. Don't do anything ________________.
  20. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  21. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  22. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  23. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  24. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — in the ear
  2. board — to get on
  3. can — a tin
  4. club — a group
  5. patient — calm and waiting
  6. club — for dancing
  7. club — for golf
  8. rash — a series
  9. can — to be able to
  10. board — a flat piece
  11. rash — on the skin
  12. can — a tin
  13. staff — employees
  14. mark — a grade
  15. patient — a sick person
  16. staff — a stick
  17. mark — to pay attention
  18. wax — to grow
  19. rash — hasty
  20. board — a committee
  21. staff — employees
  22. mark — a trace
  23. patient — a sick person
  24. wax — for sculpting

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