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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 120 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 is as ________________ as a wolf.
  2. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  3. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  4. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  5. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  6. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  7. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  8. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  9. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  10. Have you found your soul ________________?
  11. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  12. This piece is in a major ________________.
  13. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  14. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  15. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  16. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  17. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  18. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  21. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  22. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  23. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  24. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.

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

Answer key

  1. lean — thin
  2. rest — what's left
  3. wax — to grow
  4. key — the most important part
  5. wax — in the ear
  6. calf — of the leg
  7. face — part of the head
  8. rest — a break
  9. key — for a lock
  10. mate — a partner
  11. rest — what's left
  12. key — in music
  13. wax — for sculpting
  14. face — to point toward
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. suit — clothes
  17. mate — a friend
  18. suit — in cards
  19. suit — to fit
  20. mate — to breed
  21. lean — to bend
  22. face — to confront
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. lean — to rest against

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