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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. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  2. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  3. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  4. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  5. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  8. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  9. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  10. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  11. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  12. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  13. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  14. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  15. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  16. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  17. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  18. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  19. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  20. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  21. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  22. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  23. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  24. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.

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

Answer key

  1. mine — an explosive
  2. wave — with your hand
  3. bear — to put up with
  4. stick — to attach or keep to
  5. stick — a piece of wood
  6. mark — a grade
  7. stick — a piece of wood
  8. wax — in the ear
  9. wave — a sudden rise
  10. bore — to drill
  11. mine — for digging
  12. fork — to eat with
  13. mark — to pay attention
  14. mine — belonging to me
  15. mark — a trace
  16. bore — gave birth
  17. fork — a garden tool
  18. wave — of the sea
  19. wax — for sculpting
  20. bore — to tire
  21. wax — to grow
  22. bear — the animal
  23. bear — the animal
  24. fork — in a road

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