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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. He works in a ________________ mill.
  2. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  3. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  4. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  5. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  6. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  7. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  8. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  9. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  10. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  11. I'll be taking the ________________.
  12. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  13. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  14. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  15. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  16. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  17. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  18. The ________________ went through the wall.
  19. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  20. She's very handy with a ________________.
  21. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  22. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  23. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  24. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. present — the time now
  3. saw — past of 'see'
  4. nail — on a finger
  5. wax — for sculpting
  6. fan — to cool the air
  7. mark — to pay attention
  8. wax — in the ear
  9. mark — a grade
  10. present — a gift
  11. tube — the underground
  12. firm — decided
  13. firm — a company
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. tube — in a tire
  16. mark — a trace
  17. firm — steady
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. saw — the tool
  21. tube — a container
  22. present — there
  23. wax — to grow
  24. fan — a supporter

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