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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. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  4. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  5. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  6. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  7. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  8. I'll be taking the ________________.
  9. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  13. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  14. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  15. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  16. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  19. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  20. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  21. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  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. leaves — lets stay
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. march — music
  4. tube — in a tire
  5. jam — a tight spot
  6. tube — a container
  7. jam — in traffic
  8. tube — the underground
  9. dip — to dunk
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. wax — for sculpting
  13. jam — to spread on bread
  14. march — the month
  15. dip — to sink
  16. dip — a sauce
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. march — the month
  20. wax — to grow
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. mouse — for a computer
  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