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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 116 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: pitcher · lie · rush · chip · pass · bark · leaves · wax

  1. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  2. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  3. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  4. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  5. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  6. That must've been a ________________.
  7. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  8. He is an ace ________________.
  9. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  10. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  11. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  12. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  13. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  14. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  15. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  16. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  17. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  18. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  19. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  20. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  21. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  22. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  23. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  24. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — to eat
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. wax — in the ear
  5. chip — for betting
  6. rush — a thrill
  7. pass — to succeed
  8. pitcher — in baseball
  9. wax — to grow
  10. chip — in a computer
  11. lie — to recline
  12. rush — hurry
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. bark — to shout
  15. wax — for sculpting
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. pass — a permit
  18. leaves — to go away
  19. leaves — of a tree
  20. bark — a dog's sound
  21. leaves — lets stay
  22. rush — to hurry
  23. bark — of a tree
  24. pass — to spend time

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