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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. That must've been a ________________.
  2. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  3. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  4. I've got to change the light ________________.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  8. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  9. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  10. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  11. The ________________ went through the wall.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  14. The light ________________ burned out.
  15. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  16. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  17. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  18. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  19. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  20. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  21. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  24. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. rush — a thrill
  2. content — happy
  3. nail — on a finger
  4. bulb — for light
  5. can — a tin
  6. can — a tin
  7. content — videos and posts
  8. wax — for sculpting
  9. wax — to grow
  10. rush — hurry
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. can — to be able to
  13. club — a group
  14. bulb — for light
  15. mark — a trace
  16. content — the amount
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. mark — a grade
  19. club — for golf
  20. club — for dancing
  21. bulb — of a plant
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. rush — to hurry
  24. wax — in the ear

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