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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: pass · wax · track · lash · chair · ruler · shower · racket

  1. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  2. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  3. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  4. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  5. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  6. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  7. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  8. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  9. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  10. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  11. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  12. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  13. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  14. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  15. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  16. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  17. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  18. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  19. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  20. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  21. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  22. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  23. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  24. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — in the ear
  2. chair — to sit on
  3. shower — a meteor shower
  4. wax — to grow
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. pass — to succeed
  7. chair — a leader
  8. track — a song
  9. chair — a professorship
  10. wax — for sculpting
  11. track — a path
  12. pass — a permit
  13. racket — a loud noise
  14. ruler — a monarch
  15. racket — for tennis
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. lash — an eyelash
  18. shower — rain
  19. pass — to spend time
  20. shower — to wash
  21. track — to keep track
  22. racket — for tennis
  23. lash — a whip stroke
  24. lash — to lash out

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