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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: wax · rush · charge · stick · present · fine · bark · toast

  1. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  2. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  3. The tickets are free of ________________.
  4. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  5. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  6. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  7. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  8. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  9. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  10. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  11. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  15. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  16. That must've been a ________________.
  17. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  18. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  19. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  20. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  21. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  22. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  23. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  24. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.

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

Answer key

  1. toast — the most admired
  2. fine — a penalty
  3. charge — a price
  4. bark — of a tree
  5. toast — a drink to someone
  6. bark — to shout
  7. present — a gift
  8. fine — high quality
  9. bark — a dog's sound
  10. stick — a piece of wood
  11. stick — a piece of wood
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. rush — hurry
  14. fine — all right
  15. toast — bread
  16. rush — a thrill
  17. present — the time now
  18. wax — to grow
  19. charge — in control
  20. present — there
  21. charge — electricity
  22. wax — for sculpting
  23. wax — in the ear
  24. stick — to attach or keep to

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