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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. Have you settled on a ________________?
  2. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  3. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  4. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  5. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  6. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  7. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  8. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  9. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  10. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  11. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  12. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  13. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  14. Have you met the new head ________________?
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  17. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  18. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  19. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  20. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  21. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  22. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  23. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  24. Should I buy a wireless ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. date — on the calendar
  2. fork — in a road
  3. wave — a sudden rise
  4. rest — what's left
  5. date — on the calendar
  6. fork — to eat with
  7. wax — in the ear
  8. coach — pulled by horses
  9. rest — what's left
  10. mug — a face
  11. wax — to grow
  12. date — the fruit
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. mug — to rob
  16. wave — of the sea
  17. wax — for sculpting
  18. wave — with your hand
  19. fork — a garden tool
  20. mug — a cup
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. rest — a break
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. mouse — for a computer

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