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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. I can't ________________ this cold.
  2. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  3. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  4. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  5. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  6. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  7. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  8. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  9. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  10. Have you found your soul ________________?
  11. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  12. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  13. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  14. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  15. When will it ________________ you to start?
  16. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  17. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  18. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  19. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  20. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  21. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  22. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  23. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — to bear
  2. wax — to grow
  3. patient — a sick person
  4. prune — the fruit
  5. wax — in the ear
  6. mate — to breed
  7. patient — a sick person
  8. squash — the sport
  9. stand — for spectators
  10. mate — a partner
  11. squash — the vegetable
  12. wax — for sculpting
  13. dip — a sauce
  14. prune — to trim
  15. suit — to fit
  16. patient — calm and waiting
  17. stand — on your feet
  18. prune — to trim
  19. mate — a friend
  20. suit — in cards
  21. squash — to crush
  22. dip — to dunk
  23. dip — to sink
  24. suit — clothes

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