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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: current · bay · wax · rash · shower · pit · can · pass

  1. Don't do anything ________________.
  2. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  3. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  4. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  5. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  6. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  7. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  8. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  11. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  14. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  17. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  18. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  19. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  20. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  21. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  22. My mare is ________________ in color.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — hasty
  2. shower — a meteor shower
  3. pit — in a race
  4. shower — rain
  5. current — of water
  6. wax — to grow
  7. rash — on the skin
  8. pit — a hole
  9. current — happening now
  10. pass — to spend time
  11. wax — in the ear
  12. can — to be able to
  13. shower — to wash
  14. pass — a permit
  15. can — a tin
  16. bay — a part of the sea
  17. current — electric
  18. pit — a fruit stone
  19. rash — a series
  20. wax — for sculpting
  21. bay — to keep at bay
  22. bay — a horse colour
  23. can — a tin
  24. pass — to succeed

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