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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. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  2. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  3. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  4. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  5. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  6. She's very handy with a ________________.
  7. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  8. There's no middle ________________.
  9. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  10. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  11. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  12. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  13. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  14. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  15. What do you think of the new ________________?
  16. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  17. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  18. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  19. He works in a ________________ mill.
  20. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  21. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  22. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  23. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  24. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. wax — in the ear
  3. content — the amount
  4. bear — the animal
  5. bear — to put up with
  6. saw — the tool
  7. staff — employees
  8. ground — a position
  9. staff — employees
  10. wax — for sculpting
  11. ground — the earth
  12. wax — to grow
  13. firm — steady
  14. ground — crushed
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. firm — decided
  17. content — happy
  18. cabinet — a cupboard
  19. saw — the tool
  20. staff — a stick
  21. content — videos and posts
  22. saw — past of 'see'
  23. firm — a company
  24. cabinet — ministers

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