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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: wave · fine · wax · stand · fan · patient · rock · wake

  1. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  2. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  3. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  4. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  5. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  6. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  7. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  8. I can't ________________ this cold.
  9. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  10. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  11. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  12. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  13. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  14. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  17. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  18. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  19. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  20. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  21. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  22. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  23. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  24. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — a sick person
  2. wax — in the ear
  3. patient — a sick person
  4. fine — a penalty
  5. rock — to move gently
  6. wave — with your hand
  7. fine — high quality
  8. stand — to bear
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. wake — to stop sleeping
  12. wave — of the sea
  13. wax — for sculpting
  14. wax — to grow
  15. rock — music
  16. fine — all right
  17. wave — a sudden rise
  18. patient — calm and waiting
  19. stand — for spectators
  20. rock — a stone
  21. wake — before a funeral
  22. fan — to cool the air
  23. wake — a trail
  24. stand — on your feet

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