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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. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  2. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  3. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  4. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  5. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  6. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  7. My father caught me by the ________________.
  8. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  9. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  10. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  11. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  12. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  13. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  14. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  15. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  16. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  17. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  18. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  19. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  20. I'll be taking the ________________.
  21. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  22. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  23. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  24. I can't ________________ this cold.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. object — an aim
  3. tube — a container
  4. pass — to succeed
  5. wax — for sculpting
  6. arm — a part of something
  7. arm — part of the body
  8. tube — in a tire
  9. pass — a permit
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. ruler — a monarch
  12. bear — the animal
  13. object — a thing
  14. wax — in the ear
  15. wax — to grow
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. bear — to put up with
  18. pass — to spend time
  19. stand — for spectators
  20. tube — the underground
  21. stand — on your feet
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. object — to protest
  24. stand — to bear

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