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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. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  2. I've got to change the light ________________.
  3. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  4. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  5. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  6. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  7. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  8. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  9. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  10. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  11. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  12. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  13. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  14. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  15. It's one o'clock ________________.
  16. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  19. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  20. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  21. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  22. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  23. When will it ________________ you to start?
  24. How do you ________________ your surname?

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

Answer key

  1. spell — magic
  2. bulb — for light
  3. wax — to grow
  4. kick — in football
  5. sharp — clever
  6. bear — to put up with
  7. sharp — with an edge
  8. suit — in cards
  9. bear — the animal
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. wax — in the ear
  12. suit — clothes
  13. kick — a thrill
  14. bulb — of a plant
  15. sharp — exactly
  16. bear — the animal
  17. bulb — for light
  18. wax — for sculpting
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. kick — with a leg
  21. lie — to recline
  22. spell — a short time
  23. suit — to fit
  24. spell — letters

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