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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. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  2. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  3. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  4. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  5. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  6. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  7. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  8. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  11. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  12. What do you think of the new ________________?
  13. He is an ace ________________.
  14. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  17. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  18. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  21. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  22. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  23. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  24. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — for a computer
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. lash — to lash out
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. wax — for sculpting
  7. cabinet — a cupboard
  8. wax — to grow
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. rule — to rule out
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. pitcher — in baseball
  14. lash — an eyelash
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. pitch — completely
  17. wax — in the ear
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. pitch — a sports field
  21. pitch — a sales talk
  22. rule — a law
  23. lash — a whip stroke
  24. rule — government

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