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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 120 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 walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  2. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  3. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  4. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  5. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  6. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  7. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  8. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  9. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  10. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  11. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  16. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. The tickets are free of ________________.
  19. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  20. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  21. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  22. That was a fun ________________.
  23. Have you met the new head ________________?
  24. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. file — a line of people
  2. deal — a big deal
  3. rest — what's left
  4. wax — to grow
  5. deal — an agreement
  6. charge — in control
  7. file — a tool
  8. rest — a break
  9. deal — to handle
  10. rest — what's left
  11. game — a kind of play
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. coach — pulled by horses
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. game — wild animals
  16. wax — for sculpting
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. charge — a price
  19. charge — electricity
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. file — a document
  22. game — a match
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. wax — in the ear

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