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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. When will it ________________ you to start?
  2. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  3. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  4. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  5. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  6. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  7. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  8. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  9. That must've been a ________________.
  10. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  11. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  12. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  13. My mare is ________________ in color.
  14. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  15. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  16. That was ________________ to happen.
  17. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  18. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  19. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  20. I've got to change the light ________________.
  21. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  24. The moon will ________________ and wane.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — to fit
  2. wax — in the ear
  3. prune — the fruit
  4. bound — tied together
  5. suit — clothes
  6. wake — before a funeral
  7. wake — to stop sleeping
  8. bay — to keep at bay
  9. rush — a thrill
  10. wake — a trail
  11. bound — obliged
  12. wax — for sculpting
  13. bay — a horse colour
  14. bay — a part of the sea
  15. rush — to hurry
  16. bound — certain
  17. prune — to trim
  18. bulb — of a plant
  19. rush — hurry
  20. bulb — for light
  21. suit — in cards
  22. bulb — for light
  23. prune — to trim
  24. wax — to grow

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