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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: drill · wax · saw · bulb · jam · band · stand · present

  1. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  3. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  4. I can't ________________ this cold.
  5. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  6. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  7. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  8. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  9. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  10. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  11. I've got to change the light ________________.
  12. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  13. She's very handy with a ________________.
  14. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. He works in a ________________ mill.
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  19. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  20. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  21. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  22. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  23. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  24. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. saw — past of 'see'
  3. drill — a practice
  4. stand — to bear
  5. stand — on your feet
  6. band — a music group
  7. present — the time now
  8. wax — for sculpting
  9. drill — army training
  10. present — a gift
  11. bulb — for light
  12. wax — to grow
  13. saw — the tool
  14. band — a rubber band
  15. bulb — for light
  16. saw — the tool
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. jam — in traffic
  19. jam — to spread on bread
  20. wax — in the ear
  21. drill — the tool
  22. band — a ring
  23. jam — a tight spot
  24. present — there

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