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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: cap · tube · mark · patient · pass · bank · firm · wax

  1. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  2. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  3. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  4. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  5. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  8. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  9. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  10. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  11. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  12. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  13. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  14. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  15. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  16. I'll be taking the ________________.
  17. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  18. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  19. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  20. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  21. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  22. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  23. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  24. The moon will ________________ and wane.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — a permit
  2. mark — to pay attention
  3. patient — a sick person
  4. cap — a lid
  5. tube — a container
  6. mark — a grade
  7. patient — a sick person
  8. cap — a hat
  9. firm — decided
  10. firm — a company
  11. bank — for money
  12. firm — steady
  13. bank — of a river
  14. tube — in a tire
  15. wax — for sculpting
  16. tube — the underground
  17. bank — for money
  18. pass — to spend time
  19. patient — calm and waiting
  20. cap — of ice
  21. mark — a trace
  22. wax — in the ear
  23. pass — to succeed
  24. wax — to grow

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