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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
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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: last · tube · present · wax · charge · coach · nail · cabinet

  1. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  2. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  3. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  4. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  5. The ________________ went through the wall.
  6. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  7. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  8. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  9. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  10. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  11. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  12. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  13. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  14. False peace will not ________________.
  15. What do you think of the new ________________?
  16. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  17. I'll be taking the ________________.
  18. Have you met the new head ________________?
  19. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  20. The tickets are free of ________________.
  21. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  22. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  23. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  24. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?

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

Answer key

  1. tube — a container
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. tube — in a tire
  4. last — finally
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. wax — in the ear
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. present — the time now
  9. coach — pulled by horses
  10. charge — in control
  11. wax — to grow
  12. charge — electricity
  13. present — there
  14. last — to go on
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. cabinet — a cupboard
  17. tube — the underground
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. charge — a price
  21. wax — for sculpting
  22. last — final
  23. nail — on a finger
  24. present — a gift

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