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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've got to change the light ________________.
  2. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  3. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  4. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  5. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  6. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  7. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  8. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  9. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  10. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  11. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  12. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  13. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  14. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  15. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  16. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  19. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  20. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  21. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  22. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  23. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  24. The light ________________ burned out.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. toast — bread
  3. wax — in the ear
  4. bore — gave birth
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. jam — in traffic
  7. lie — to recline
  8. fine — high quality
  9. toast — the most admired
  10. jam — a tight spot
  11. pass — a permit
  12. bore — to drill
  13. jam — to spread on bread
  14. bore — to tire
  15. fine — all right
  16. fine — a penalty
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. toast — a drink to someone
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. pass — to succeed
  21. pass — to spend time
  22. wax — to grow
  23. wax — for sculpting
  24. bulb — for light

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