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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 120 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: perch · spell · wax · can · wave · patient · pass · cap

  1. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  2. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  3. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  4. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  7. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  8. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  11. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  12. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  13. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  14. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  17. How do you ________________ your surname?
  18. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  19. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  20. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  21. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  22. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  23. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  24. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — magic
  2. cap — a lid
  3. cap — a hat
  4. perch — for a bird
  5. can — a tin
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. wave — with your hand
  8. wave — a sudden rise
  9. can — a tin
  10. perch — the fish
  11. cap — of ice
  12. spell — a short time
  13. wax — to grow
  14. patient — calm and waiting
  15. can — to be able to
  16. pass — a permit
  17. spell — letters
  18. patient — a sick person
  19. wave — of the sea
  20. patient — a sick person
  21. wax — in the ear
  22. wax — for sculpting
  23. pass — to succeed
  24. pass — to spend time

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