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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 120 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 · leaves · patient · tube · sharp · rush · pass · object

  1. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  4. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  5. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  8. I'll be taking the ________________.
  9. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  10. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  11. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  12. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  13. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  14. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  15. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  16. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  17. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  18. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  19. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  20. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  21. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  22. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  23. It's one o'clock ________________.
  24. That must've been a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — lets stay
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. patient — a sick person
  4. patient — calm and waiting
  5. pass — to spend time
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. rush — hurry
  8. tube — the underground
  9. rush — to hurry
  10. patient — a sick person
  11. wax — to grow
  12. wax — for sculpting
  13. sharp — with an edge
  14. wax — in the ear
  15. pass — to succeed
  16. tube — a container
  17. sharp — clever
  18. pass — a permit
  19. object — to protest
  20. object — an aim
  21. object — a thing
  22. tube — in a tire
  23. sharp — exactly
  24. rush — a thrill

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