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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. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  2. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  5. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  6. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  7. Have you met the new head ________________?
  8. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  9. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  10. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  11. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  12. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  13. The ________________ went through the wall.
  14. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  15. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  16. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  17. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  18. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  19. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. I'll be taking the ________________.
  22. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  23. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. march — the month
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. wax — in the ear
  5. wax — for sculpting
  6. present — the time now
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. march — music
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. wax — to grow
  11. pitch — completely
  12. tube — a container
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. nail — on a finger
  15. march — the month
  16. present — there
  17. pitch — a sports field
  18. pitch — a sales talk
  19. tube — in a tire
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. tube — the underground
  22. coach — pulled by horses
  23. present — a gift
  24. safe — out of danger

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