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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. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  2. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  3. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  4. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  5. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  6. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  7. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  8. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  9. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  10. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  11. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  12. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  13. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  14. When will it ________________ you to start?
  15. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  16. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. He works in a ________________ mill.
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. She's very handy with a ________________.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  23. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  24. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cap — a lid
  2. track — to keep track
  3. wax — for sculpting
  4. track — a path
  5. file — a tool
  6. saw — past of 'see'
  7. wax — in the ear
  8. wax — to grow
  9. file — a document
  10. cue — a hint
  11. track — a song
  12. file — a line of people
  13. cap — a hat
  14. suit — to fit
  15. cue — for pool
  16. suit — clothes
  17. bulb — for light
  18. saw — the tool
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. saw — the tool
  21. bulb — for light
  22. cue — a signal
  23. cap — of ice
  24. suit — in cards

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