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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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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 bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  2. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  6. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  9. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  10. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  11. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  12. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  13. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  14. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  15. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  18. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  19. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  20. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  21. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  22. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  23. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  24. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — in traffic
  2. wake — before a funeral
  3. can — a tin
  4. can — to be able to
  5. rock — a stone
  6. lean — to bend
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. rule — government
  9. lean — thin
  10. rule — a law
  11. leaves — lets stay
  12. leaves — of a tree
  13. jam — a tight spot
  14. rock — music
  15. wax — to grow
  16. can — a tin
  17. wake — to stop sleeping
  18. jam — to spread on bread
  19. wax — for sculpting
  20. rule — to rule out
  21. wax — in the ear
  22. leaves — to go away
  23. lean — to rest against
  24. wake — a trail

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