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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 116 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: deal · pit · season · board · bass · wax · cap · pass

  1. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  2. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  3. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  4. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  5. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  6. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  7. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  8. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  9. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  10. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  11. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  12. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  13. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  14. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  15. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  16. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  17. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  18. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  19. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  20. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  21. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  22. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  23. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  24. Did you ________________ the meat?

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

Answer key

  1. cap — a hat
  2. deal — an agreement
  3. wax — in the ear
  4. wax — to grow
  5. deal — a big deal
  6. pass — to spend time
  7. pit — in a race
  8. pit — a fruit stone
  9. pass — to succeed
  10. season — of the year
  11. board — to get on
  12. deal — to handle
  13. pit — a hole
  14. bass — the fish
  15. cap — of ice
  16. cap — a lid
  17. bass — the instrument
  18. wax — for sculpting
  19. season — in sport
  20. bass — low music
  21. board — a committee
  22. board — a flat piece
  23. pass — a permit
  24. season — to add flavour

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