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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.

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: pop · jam · fall · root · rock · wax · cabinet · mate

  1. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  2. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  3. We're almost out of ________________.
  4. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  5. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  6. What do you think of the new ________________?
  7. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  8. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  9. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  10. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  11. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  12. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  13. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  14. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  15. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  18. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  19. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  20. You don't need to ________________ round.
  21. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  22. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  23. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  24. Have you found your soul ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. fall — to drop
  2. fall — to drop
  3. pop — soda
  4. mate — to breed
  5. rock — to move gently
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. jam — in traffic
  8. root — the cause
  9. wax — in the ear
  10. cabinet — a cupboard
  11. wax — to grow
  12. fall — the season
  13. mate — a friend
  14. pop — music
  15. root — of a word
  16. rock — music
  17. rock — a stone
  18. jam — a tight spot
  19. root — of a plant
  20. pop — to visit
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. wax — for sculpting
  23. jam — to spread on bread
  24. mate — a partner

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