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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: date · fork · sharp · pass · bore · wax · can · fine

  1. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  4. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  5. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  6. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  7. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  8. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  12. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  13. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  14. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  15. It's one o'clock ________________.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  18. Have you settled on a ________________?
  19. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  20. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  21. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  22. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  23. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  24. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — for sculpting
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. fork — in a road
  4. sharp — with an edge
  5. bore — gave birth
  6. fine — high quality
  7. bore — to drill
  8. pass — to succeed
  9. can — to be able to
  10. can — a tin
  11. wax — to grow
  12. sharp — clever
  13. date — on the calendar
  14. fork — to eat with
  15. sharp — exactly
  16. can — a tin
  17. date — the fruit
  18. date — on the calendar
  19. fork — a garden tool
  20. wax — in the ear
  21. bore — to tire
  22. fine — all right
  23. pass — a permit
  24. fine — a penalty

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