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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. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  2. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  3. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  4. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  5. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  6. This piece is in a major ________________.
  7. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  8. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  9. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  10. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  11. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  12. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  17. I can't ________________ this cold.
  18. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  19. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  22. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  23. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. bear — to put up with
  3. lash — a whip stroke
  4. wax — in the ear
  5. prune — to trim
  6. key — in music
  7. prune — to trim
  8. stand — on your feet
  9. key — the most important part
  10. prune — the fruit
  11. lash — an eyelash
  12. lash — to lash out
  13. can — a tin
  14. wax — for sculpting
  15. can — to be able to
  16. rest — what's left
  17. stand — to bear
  18. rest — what's left
  19. rest — a break
  20. key — for a lock
  21. bear — the animal
  22. wax — to grow
  23. stand — for spectators
  24. can — a tin

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