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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 refilled his coffee ________________.
  2. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  3. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  4. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  5. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  6. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  7. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  8. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  9. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  10. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  11. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  12. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  13. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  14. The ________________ went through the wall.
  15. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  16. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  17. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  18. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  19. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  20. Where did you ________________ them?
  21. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  22. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  23. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  24. The moon will ________________ and wane.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a cup
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. staff — employees
  4. staff — a stick
  5. wax — for sculpting
  6. lie — to recline
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. mug — a face
  9. wax — in the ear
  10. current — electric
  11. current — happening now
  12. nail — on a finger
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. track — a path
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. fan — to cool the air
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. track — a song
  20. mug — to rob
  21. current — of water
  22. track — to keep track
  23. staff — employees
  24. wax — to grow

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