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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. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  2. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  3. Where did you ________________ them?
  4. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  5. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  6. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  7. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  8. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  9. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  10. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  11. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  12. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  13. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  14. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  15. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  16. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  17. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  18. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  19. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  20. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  21. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  22. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  23. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  24. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — to handle
  2. craft — a handicraft
  3. mug — to rob
  4. mine — an explosive
  5. wax — to grow
  6. wax — for sculpting
  7. craft — a skill
  8. mug — a face
  9. root — of a word
  10. mine — for digging
  11. deal — an agreement
  12. mine — belonging to me
  13. face — to confront
  14. face — part of the head
  15. mouse — for a computer
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. root — the cause
  18. face — to point toward
  19. mug — a cup
  20. root — of a plant
  21. wax — in the ear
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. deal — a big deal
  24. craft — boats

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