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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: jam · cabinet · bulb · pass · deal · wax · bore · ball

  1. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  2. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  3. I've got to change the light ________________.
  4. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  5. The King held a masked ________________.
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  8. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  9. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  10. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  11. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  12. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  13. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  14. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  15. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  16. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  17. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  18. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  19. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  20. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  21. What do you think of the new ________________?
  22. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  23. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  24. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to succeed
  2. deal — an agreement
  3. bulb — for light
  4. jam — in traffic
  5. ball — a dance
  6. bulb — for light
  7. deal — a big deal
  8. jam — to spread on bread
  9. bore — to drill
  10. wax — to grow
  11. ball — a great time
  12. wax — in the ear
  13. pass — to spend time
  14. pass — a permit
  15. deal — to handle
  16. wax — for sculpting
  17. bore — to tire
  18. jam — a tight spot
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. cabinet — a cupboard
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. ball — a round shape
  23. bore — gave birth
  24. bulb — of a plant

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