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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 120 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 moon will ________________ and wane.
  2. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  3. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  4. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  7. When will it ________________ you to start?
  8. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  11. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  12. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  15. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  16. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  17. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  18. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  19. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  20. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  21. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  22. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  23. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  24. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?

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

Answer key

  1. wax — to grow
  2. suit — clothes
  3. net — in sport
  4. wave — of the sea
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. suit — in cards
  7. suit — to fit
  8. object — to protest
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. scale — for weighing
  11. wave — a sudden rise
  12. wave — with your hand
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. scale — in music
  15. net — for catching
  16. fan — to cool the air
  17. object — an aim
  18. object — a thing
  19. wax — for sculpting
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. net — after costs
  22. wax — in the ear
  23. scale — size or range
  24. fan — a supporter

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