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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. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  2. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  3. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  6. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  7. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  8. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  9. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  10. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  11. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  12. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  13. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  14. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  15. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  16. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  17. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  18. When will it ________________ you to start?
  19. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  20. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  21. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  22. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  23. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. content — happy
  2. wax — in the ear
  3. mouse — for a computer
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. wax — for sculpting
  6. content — the amount
  7. field — farmland
  8. cap — a lid
  9. cap — a hat
  10. field — a subject
  11. fine — high quality
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. suit — in cards
  15. wax — to grow
  16. content — videos and posts
  17. field — for sport
  18. suit — to fit
  19. fine — a penalty
  20. fine — all right
  21. cap — of ice
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. ruler — a monarch
  24. suit — clothes

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