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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.

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: snap · leaves · fine · pass · charge · wax · coach · date

  1. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  4. The tickets are free of ________________.
  5. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  6. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  7. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  8. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  9. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  10. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  11. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  12. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  13. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  14. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  15. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  16. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  17. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  18. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  19. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  20. Have you settled on a ________________?
  21. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  22. Have you met the new head ________________?
  23. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  24. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — lets stay
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. charge — in control
  4. charge — a price
  5. date — on the calendar
  6. snap — to click
  7. wax — in the ear
  8. leaves — of a tree
  9. wax — for sculpting
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. date — the fruit
  12. charge — electricity
  13. pass — a permit
  14. leaves — to go away
  15. wax — to grow
  16. fine — high quality
  17. fine — all right
  18. snap — to snap out of it
  19. fine — a penalty
  20. date — on the calendar
  21. coach — pulled by horses
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. pass — to succeed
  24. snap — to speak sharply

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