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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. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  2. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  4. I've got to change the light ________________.
  5. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  6. The tickets are free of ________________.
  7. The light ________________ burned out.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  10. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  11. She's very handy with a ________________.
  12. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  13. That must've been a ________________.
  14. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  15. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  16. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  17. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  18. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  19. He works in a ________________ mill.
  20. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — in the ear
  2. charge — in control
  3. charge — electricity
  4. bulb — for light
  5. patient — a sick person
  6. charge — a price
  7. bulb — for light
  8. can — to be able to
  9. saw — past of 'see'
  10. wax — to grow
  11. saw — the tool
  12. wax — for sculpting
  13. rush — a thrill
  14. bulb — of a plant
  15. rush — to hurry
  16. fork — a garden tool
  17. fork — in a road
  18. patient — calm and waiting
  19. saw — the tool
  20. patient — a sick person
  21. rush — hurry
  22. fork — to eat with
  23. can — a tin
  24. can — a tin

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