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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 120 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. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  2. Have you found your soul ________________?
  3. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  4. The ball is in your ________________.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  10. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  11. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. The ________________ took off on time.
  14. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  15. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  16. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  17. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  18. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  19. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  20. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  23. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  24. The moon will ________________ and wane.

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

Answer key

  1. mate — to breed
  2. mate — a partner
  3. rock — music
  4. court — for sport
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. mouse — for a computer
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. plane — in geometry
  10. court — of law
  11. leaves — lets stay
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. plane — an aircraft
  14. court — of a king
  15. mate — a friend
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. plane — a tool
  18. wax — in the ear
  19. wax — for sculpting
  20. rock — to move gently
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. rock — a stone
  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