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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: roll · bear · wax · safe · pass · tube · rest · pitch

  1. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  2. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  3. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  6. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  7. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  8. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  9. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  14. I'll be taking the ________________.
  15. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  16. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  17. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  18. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  19. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  22. We're on a ________________ here.
  23. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  24. I would like to have a ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. rest — what's left
  3. bear — to put up with
  4. pass — a permit
  5. rest — what's left
  6. roll — a cake
  7. pitch — completely
  8. wax — for sculpting
  9. wax — in the ear
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. tube — in a tire
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. pass — to spend time
  14. tube — the underground
  15. roll — a list
  16. pass — to succeed
  17. wax — to grow
  18. tube — a container
  19. bear — the animal
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. pitch — a sports field
  22. roll — on a roll
  23. pitch — a sales talk
  24. rest — a break

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