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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: mug · craft · can · wax · hide · pitcher · pass · bound

  1. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  2. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  3. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  4. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  5. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  8. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  9. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  10. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  13. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  14. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  15. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  16. Where did you ________________ them?
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  21. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  22. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  23. That was ________________ to happen.
  24. He is an ace ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a face
  2. hide — to keep secret
  3. hide — animal skin
  4. wax — in the ear
  5. bound — obliged
  6. can — a tin
  7. pass — to spend time
  8. wax — for sculpting
  9. craft — a skill
  10. pass — to succeed
  11. mug — a cup
  12. pass — a permit
  13. bound — tied together
  14. hide — to keep secret
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. mug — to rob
  17. can — a tin
  18. wax — to grow
  19. can — to be able to
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. craft — boats
  22. craft — a handicraft
  23. bound — certain
  24. pitcher — in baseball

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