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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. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  3. Don't do anything ________________.
  4. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  5. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  6. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  7. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  8. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  9. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  10. When will it ________________ you to start?
  11. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  12. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  13. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  14. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  15. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  16. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  17. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  18. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  19. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  20. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  21. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  22. My mare is ________________ in color.
  23. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  24. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. squash — the sport
  3. rash — hasty
  4. chip — in a computer
  5. bay — a part of the sea
  6. rash — on the skin
  7. pass — to spend time
  8. chip — for betting
  9. wax — to grow
  10. suit — to fit
  11. chip — to eat
  12. net — for catching
  13. rash — a series
  14. wax — for sculpting
  15. pass — a permit
  16. squash — the vegetable
  17. bay — to keep at bay
  18. squash — to crush
  19. net — after costs
  20. net — in sport
  21. wax — in the ear
  22. bay — a horse colour
  23. suit — in cards
  24. pass — to succeed

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