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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 116 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: shower · suit · pass · wax · season · stick · board · pit

  1. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  2. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  3. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  4. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  5. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  6. Did you ________________ the meat?
  7. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  8. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  9. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  10. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  11. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  12. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  13. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  14. When will it ________________ you to start?
  15. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  16. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  17. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  18. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  19. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  20. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  21. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  22. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  23. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  24. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. board — to get on
  2. pit — in a race
  3. shower — a meteor shower
  4. wax — for sculpting
  5. stick — a piece of wood
  6. season — to add flavour
  7. pass — a permit
  8. suit — in cards
  9. pass — to succeed
  10. pit — a fruit stone
  11. stick — to attach or keep to
  12. season — in sport
  13. wax — to grow
  14. suit — to fit
  15. shower — rain
  16. season — of the year
  17. pass — to spend time
  18. shower — to wash
  19. board — a committee
  20. wax — in the ear
  21. pit — a hole
  22. board — a flat piece
  23. suit — clothes
  24. stick — a piece of wood

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