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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. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  4. I've got to change the light ________________.
  5. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  6. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  7. We're almost out of ________________.
  8. You don't need to ________________ round.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  11. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  12. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  13. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  14. He is an ace ________________.
  15. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  16. The light ________________ burned out.
  17. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  18. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  19. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  20. Have you met the new head ________________?
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  23. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  24. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to sink
  2. can — a tin
  3. bulb — of a plant
  4. bulb — for light
  5. pop — music
  6. wax — for sculpting
  7. pop — soda
  8. pop — to visit
  9. can — a tin
  10. wax — in the ear
  11. leaves — lets stay
  12. dip — a sauce
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. pitcher — in baseball
  15. coach — pulled by horses
  16. bulb — for light
  17. dip — to dunk
  18. leaves — of a tree
  19. leaves — to go away
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. can — to be able to
  22. wax — to grow
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. coach — a trainer

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