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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. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  2. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  3. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  4. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  5. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  6. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  7. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  8. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  9. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  10. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  11. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  12. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  13. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  14. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  15. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  16. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  17. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  18. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  19. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  20. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  21. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  22. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  23. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  24. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a grade
  2. toast — a drink to someone
  3. rest — what's left
  4. bank — for money
  5. bank — for money
  6. mine — belonging to me
  7. pass — to succeed
  8. squash — the vegetable
  9. mine — for digging
  10. rest — what's left
  11. squash — the sport
  12. mark — a trace
  13. wax — in the ear
  14. mine — an explosive
  15. pass — to spend time
  16. mark — to pay attention
  17. squash — to crush
  18. wax — to grow
  19. bank — of a river
  20. pass — a permit
  21. toast — bread
  22. wax — for sculpting
  23. rest — a break
  24. toast — the most admired

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