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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
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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: can · mouse · coach · cabinet · wax · date · bay · fan

  1. What do you think of the new ________________?
  2. Have you settled on a ________________?
  3. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  4. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  7. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. Have you met the new head ________________?
  10. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  13. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  14. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  15. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  16. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  17. My mare is ________________ in color.
  18. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  19. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  20. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  21. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  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. cabinet — ministers
  2. date — on the calendar
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. coach — pulled by horses
  5. can — a tin
  6. mouse — for a computer
  7. bay — a part of the sea
  8. can — a tin
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. fan — to cool the air
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. date — on the calendar
  16. date — the fruit
  17. bay — a horse colour
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. cabinet — a cupboard
  20. wax — to grow
  21. bay — to keep at bay
  22. can — to be able to
  23. wax — in the ear
  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