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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 116 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. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  2. I'll be taking the ________________.
  3. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  6. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  7. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  8. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  11. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  12. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  13. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  14. I've got to change the light ________________.
  15. The ________________ went through the wall.
  16. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  17. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  18. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  19. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. pit — a hole
  2. tube — the underground
  3. wax — to grow
  4. can — a tin
  5. staff — employees
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. pit — in a race
  8. march — the month
  9. can — a tin
  10. pit — a fruit stone
  11. nail — on a finger
  12. tube — a container
  13. staff — employees
  14. bulb — for light
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. march — music
  17. tube — in a tire
  18. wax — in the ear
  19. march — the month
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. wax — for sculpting
  22. bulb — for light
  23. staff — a stick
  24. can — to be able to

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