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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. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  3. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  8. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  9. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  10. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  13. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  14. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  15. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  16. That was a fun ________________.
  17. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  18. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  19. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  20. The tickets are free of ________________.
  21. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  24. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. wax — to grow
  3. wax — in the ear
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. can — to be able to
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. trunk — of an elephant
  8. trunk — of a car
  9. trunk — of a tree
  10. squash — the vegetable
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. game — a kind of play
  13. game — wild animals
  14. squash — to crush
  15. charge — electricity
  16. game — a match
  17. squash — the sport
  18. staff — employees
  19. wax — for sculpting
  20. charge — a price
  21. staff — employees
  22. can — a tin
  23. staff — a stick
  24. can — a tin

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