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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 120 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: saw · fine · net · bound · bulb · kick · wax · pass

  1. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  2. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  3. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  4. She's very handy with a ________________.
  5. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  6. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  7. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  8. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  9. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  10. I've got to change the light ________________.
  11. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  12. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  13. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  14. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  15. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  16. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  17. He works in a ________________ mill.
  18. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  19. That was ________________ to happen.
  20. The light ________________ burned out.
  21. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  22. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  23. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  24. We are ________________ to obey laws.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — a permit
  2. bulb — of a plant
  3. fine — high quality
  4. saw — the tool
  5. saw — past of 'see'
  6. net — in sport
  7. kick — a thrill
  8. net — for catching
  9. wax — for sculpting
  10. bulb — for light
  11. fine — all right
  12. pass — to spend time
  13. net — after costs
  14. wax — to grow
  15. fine — a penalty
  16. kick — with a leg
  17. saw — the tool
  18. pass — to succeed
  19. bound — certain
  20. bulb — for light
  21. wax — in the ear
  22. kick — in football
  23. bound — tied together
  24. bound — obliged

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