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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
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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 · firm · coach · lie · roll · court · chair · wax

  1. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  2. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  3. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  4. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  5. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  6. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  7. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  8. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  9. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  10. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  11. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  12. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  13. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  14. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  15. Have you met the new head ________________?
  16. We're on a ________________ here.
  17. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  18. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  19. The ball is in your ________________.
  20. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  21. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  22. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  23. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  24. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.

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

Answer key

  1. court — of law
  2. firm — decided
  3. chair — a professorship
  4. lie — to recline
  5. pass — to succeed
  6. wax — to grow
  7. roll — a list
  8. wax — for sculpting
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. wax — in the ear
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. chair — to sit on
  13. pass — a permit
  14. roll — a cake
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. roll — on a roll
  17. coach — pulled by horses
  18. pass — to spend time
  19. court — for sport
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. chair — a leader
  22. firm — a company
  23. court — of a king
  24. firm — steady

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