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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.

Make a worksheet

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: wax · coach · row · wave · dip · deal · mine · bulb

  1. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  2. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  3. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  4. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  5. Have you met the new head ________________?
  6. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  7. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  8. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  9. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  10. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  11. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  12. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  13. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  14. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  15. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  16. I've got to change the light ________________.
  17. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  18. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  19. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  20. The light ________________ burned out.
  21. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  22. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  23. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  24. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — to grow
  2. deal — to handle
  3. wave — a sudden rise
  4. row — to paddle
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. mine — for digging
  7. dip — to sink
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. wax — in the ear
  10. row — a quarrel
  11. wave — of the sea
  12. mine — belonging to me
  13. wave — with your hand
  14. deal — a big deal
  15. dip — a sauce
  16. bulb — for light
  17. coach — pulled by horses
  18. bulb — of a plant
  19. dip — to dunk
  20. bulb — for light
  21. row — a line
  22. mine — an explosive
  23. wax — for sculpting
  24. deal — an agreement

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