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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. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  2. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  3. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  4. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  5. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  6. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  7. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  8. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  9. When will it ________________ you to start?
  10. He is an ace ________________.
  11. I can't ________________ this cold.
  12. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  13. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  14. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  15. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  16. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  17. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  18. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  19. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  20. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  21. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  22. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  23. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  24. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — part of the body
  2. foot — a measure
  3. suit — clothes
  4. pit — a fruit stone
  5. foot — the bottom
  6. pit — in a race
  7. pit — a hole
  8. wax — to grow
  9. suit — to fit
  10. pitcher — in baseball
  11. stand — to bear
  12. wax — in the ear
  13. wax — for sculpting
  14. wind — moving air
  15. stick — a piece of wood
  16. stand — for spectators
  17. stick — a piece of wood
  18. wind — to turn a key
  19. suit — in cards
  20. stick — to attach or keep to
  21. stand — on your feet
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. wind — moving air

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