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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: stick · fan · wax · pass · can · cue · game · row

  1. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  6. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  7. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  8. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  9. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  10. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  11. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  12. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  13. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  14. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  15. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  16. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. That was a fun ________________.
  19. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  20. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  21. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  22. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  23. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  24. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — to attach or keep to
  2. can — a tin
  3. pass — to spend time
  4. can — a tin
  5. cue — for pool
  6. row — a line
  7. fan — to cool the air
  8. wax — for sculpting
  9. stick — a piece of wood
  10. game — wild animals
  11. row — a quarrel
  12. wax — in the ear
  13. pass — a permit
  14. pass — to succeed
  15. wax — to grow
  16. cue — a signal
  17. can — to be able to
  18. game — a match
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. cue — a hint
  21. row — to paddle
  22. game — a kind of play
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. stick — a piece of wood

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