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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: wax · can · tube · mug · kid · rash · mark · mate

  1. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  2. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. Where did you ________________ them?
  7. Don't do anything ________________.
  8. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  9. Have you found your soul ________________?
  10. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  13. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  14. I'll be taking the ________________.
  15. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  19. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  20. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  21. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  22. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.

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

Answer key

  1. kid — child
  2. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  3. can — a tin
  4. wax — in the ear
  5. can — to be able to
  6. mug — to rob
  7. rash — hasty
  8. mark — a grade
  9. mate — a partner
  10. mate — a friend
  11. mug — a cup
  12. kid — to tease
  13. wax — for sculpting
  14. tube — the underground
  15. mate — to breed
  16. mug — a face
  17. rash — a series
  18. mark — to pay attention
  19. tube — a container
  20. wax — to grow
  21. rash — on the skin
  22. mark — a trace
  23. can — a tin
  24. tube — in a tire

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