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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: pass · ruler · chest · bound · wax · coach · game · present

  1. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  2. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  3. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  4. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  5. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  6. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  7. Have you met the new head ________________?
  8. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  9. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  10. That was a fun ________________.
  11. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  12. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  13. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  14. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  15. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  16. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  17. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  18. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  19. That was ________________ to happen.
  20. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  21. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  22. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  23. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  24. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. bound — obliged
  3. wax — in the ear
  4. present — a gift
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. wax — to grow
  9. wax — for sculpting
  10. game — a match
  11. pass — a permit
  12. ruler — a monarch
  13. pass — to spend time
  14. chest — a box
  15. coach — pulled by horses
  16. chest — of your body
  17. present — there
  18. present — the time now
  19. bound — certain
  20. pass — to succeed
  21. game — wild animals
  22. game — a kind of play
  23. chest — of your body
  24. bound — tied together

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