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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: chip · patient · wax · band · bay · leaves · track · can

  1. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  2. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  3. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  6. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  7. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  8. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  11. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  12. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  16. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  17. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  18. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  19. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  20. My mare is ________________ in color.
  21. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  22. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  23. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  24. The ________________ change colour in autumn.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. leaves — to go away
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. patient — calm and waiting
  6. bay — a part of the sea
  7. track — a path
  8. band — a rubber band
  9. can — a tin
  10. track — to keep track
  11. chip — to eat
  12. chip — for betting
  13. can — a tin
  14. can — to be able to
  15. wax — in the ear
  16. patient — a sick person
  17. track — a song
  18. band — a music group
  19. wax — for sculpting
  20. bay — a horse colour
  21. wax — to grow
  22. chip — in a computer
  23. band — a ring
  24. leaves — of a tree

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