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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 120 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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  3. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  4. My father caught me by the ________________.
  5. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  6. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  7. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  8. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  9. I can't ________________ this cold.
  10. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  11. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  16. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. fan — to cool the air
  3. lean — to rest against
  4. arm — part of the body
  5. arm — a part of something
  6. wax — to grow
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. stand — on your feet
  9. stand — to bear
  10. wax — for sculpting
  11. arm — part of the body
  12. can — to be able to
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. can — a tin
  15. lean — to bend
  16. lean — thin
  17. can — a tin
  18. wax — in the ear

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