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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: wax · bound · fine · charge · trunk · stand · pitcher · bass

  1. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  2. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  3. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  4. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  5. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  6. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  7. The tickets are free of ________________.
  8. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  9. That was ________________ to happen.
  10. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  11. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  12. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  13. I can't ________________ this cold.
  14. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  15. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  16. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  17. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  18. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  19. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  20. He is an ace ________________.
  21. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  22. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  23. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  24. Fill up this ________________ with water.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — obliged
  2. wax — for sculpting
  3. bound — tied together
  4. wax — to grow
  5. bass — low music
  6. trunk — of a tree
  7. charge — a price
  8. fine — all right
  9. bound — certain
  10. stand — on your feet
  11. bass — the instrument
  12. trunk — of an elephant
  13. stand — to bear
  14. charge — in control
  15. trunk — of a car
  16. bass — the fish
  17. charge — electricity
  18. stand — for spectators
  19. fine — high quality
  20. pitcher — in baseball
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. fine — a penalty
  23. wax — in the ear
  24. pitcher — a jug

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