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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: file · jam · arm · can · coach · object · wax · mate

  1. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  2. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  3. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  4. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  5. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  9. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  10. Have you found your soul ________________?
  11. My father caught me by the ________________.
  12. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  13. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  14. Have you met the new head ________________?
  15. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  16. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  17. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  18. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  19. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  20. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  23. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  24. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — in traffic
  2. mate — to breed
  3. file — a tool
  4. coach — pulled by horses
  5. object — an aim
  6. can — to be able to
  7. can — a tin
  8. arm — a part of something
  9. mate — a friend
  10. mate — a partner
  11. arm — part of the body
  12. arm — part of the body
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. object — a thing
  16. jam — a tight spot
  17. wax — to grow
  18. jam — to spread on bread
  19. object — to protest
  20. file — a line of people
  21. can — a tin
  22. wax — in the ear
  23. file — a document
  24. wax — for sculpting

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