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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: fan · mug · march · wax · straw · firm · rock · mark

  1. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  2. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  3. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  4. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  5. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  6. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  7. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  8. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  9. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  10. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  11. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  12. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  13. Where did you ________________ them?
  14. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  17. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  18. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  19. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  20. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  21. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  22. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  23. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  24. He refilled his coffee ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — to pay attention
  2. firm — a company
  3. straw — dry grass
  4. march — music
  5. march — the month
  6. mug — a face
  7. firm — decided
  8. fan — to cool the air
  9. march — the month
  10. wax — in the ear
  11. straw — to clutch at straws
  12. rock — to move gently
  13. mug — to rob
  14. straw — a straw man
  15. rock — music
  16. wax — to grow
  17. firm — steady
  18. rock — a stone
  19. mark — a grade
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. mark — a trace
  23. wax — for sculpting
  24. mug — a cup

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