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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
468
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: fine · wax · charge · pass · hide · stem · kid · stand

  1. I can't ________________ this cold.
  2. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  3. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  4. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  5. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  6. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  7. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  8. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  9. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  10. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  11. The tickets are free of ________________.
  12. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  13. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  14. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  15. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  16. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  17. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  18. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  19. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  20. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  21. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  22. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  23. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  24. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?

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

Answer key

  1. stand — to bear
  2. fine — all right
  3. wax — in the ear
  4. stem — to come from
  5. charge — electricity
  6. kid — child
  7. fine — a penalty
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. stand — for spectators
  10. kid — to tease
  11. charge — a price
  12. hide — animal skin
  13. pass — to spend time
  14. pass — to succeed
  15. wax — for sculpting
  16. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  17. wax — to grow
  18. pass — a permit
  19. stem — of a plant
  20. fine — high quality
  21. stem — a stem cell
  22. stand — on your feet
  23. charge — in control
  24. hide — to keep secret

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