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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 116 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. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  2. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  3. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  4. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  5. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  6. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  7. We're almost out of ________________.
  8. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  9. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  10. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  11. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  12. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  13. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  14. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  15. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  16. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  17. I can't ________________ this cold.
  18. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  19. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  20. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  21. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  22. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  23. You don't need to ________________ round.
  24. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — for weighing
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. scale — size or range
  4. bowl — a football final
  5. stand — on your feet
  6. wax — in the ear
  7. pop — soda
  8. club — for dancing
  9. pass — to spend time
  10. scale — in music
  11. pass — to succeed
  12. pop — music
  13. bowl — to roll
  14. pass — a permit
  15. club — for golf
  16. wax — for sculpting
  17. stand — to bear
  18. wax — to grow
  19. club — a group
  20. lie — to recline
  21. bowl — a dish
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. pop — to visit
  24. stand — for spectators

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