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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: wax · press · pass · bass · staff · file · track · suit

  1. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  2. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  3. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  4. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  5. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  6. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  7. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  8. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  9. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  10. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  11. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  12. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  13. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  14. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  15. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  16. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  17. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  18. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  19. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  20. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  21. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  22. When will it ________________ you to start?
  23. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  24. Did you ________________ the button?

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

Answer key

  1. wax — to grow
  2. file — a document
  3. press — a publisher
  4. suit — clothes
  5. file — a line of people
  6. wax — for sculpting
  7. track — to keep track
  8. bass — the fish
  9. pass — to succeed
  10. wax — in the ear
  11. staff — employees
  12. pass — to spend time
  13. suit — in cards
  14. file — a tool
  15. track — a song
  16. staff — employees
  17. pass — a permit
  18. track — a path
  19. bass — the instrument
  20. staff — a stick
  21. press — newspapers
  22. suit — to fit
  23. bass — low music
  24. press — to push

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