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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: bank · wave · wax · suit · pitcher · rule · snap · nail

  1. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  2. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  3. The ________________ went through the wall.
  4. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  5. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  6. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  7. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  8. He is an ace ________________.
  9. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  10. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  11. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  12. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  13. When will it ________________ you to start?
  14. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  15. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  16. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  17. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  18. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  19. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  20. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  21. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  22. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  23. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — of the sea
  2. bank — of a river
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. wax — in the ear
  6. rule — government
  7. snap — to click
  8. pitcher — in baseball
  9. wax — for sculpting
  10. wave — a sudden rise
  11. nail — on a finger
  12. bank — for money
  13. suit — to fit
  14. rule — a law
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. suit — in cards
  17. bank — for money
  18. wax — to grow
  19. snap — to snap out of it
  20. rule — to rule out
  21. wave — with your hand
  22. snap — to speak sharply
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. suit — clothes

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