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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.

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: can · pitcher · season · face · bass · cell · wax · cue

  1. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  4. He was locked up in a ________________.
  5. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  6. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  7. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  8. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  9. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. Did you ________________ the meat?
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  14. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  15. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  16. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  17. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  18. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  19. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  20. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  21. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  22. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  23. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  24. He is an ace ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — a jug
  2. can — a tin
  3. bass — the fish
  4. cell — in a prison
  5. cell — in biology
  6. bass — low music
  7. wax — for sculpting
  8. season — of the year
  9. face — to point toward
  10. can — a tin
  11. season — to add flavour
  12. can — to be able to
  13. bass — the instrument
  14. wax — in the ear
  15. face — part of the head
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. cue — a hint
  18. wax — to grow
  19. cue — a signal
  20. face — to confront
  21. season — in sport
  22. cue — for pool
  23. cell — a phone
  24. pitcher — in baseball

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