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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. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  2. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  3. He works in a ________________ mill.
  4. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  5. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  6. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  7. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  8. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  9. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  10. She's very handy with a ________________.
  11. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  12. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  13. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  14. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  15. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  16. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  17. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  18. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  19. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  20. When will it ________________ you to start?
  21. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  22. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  23. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  24. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.

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

Answer key

  1. cap — of ice
  2. object — an aim
  3. saw — the tool
  4. object — a thing
  5. bear — the animal
  6. board — a committee
  7. bear — the animal
  8. saw — past of 'see'
  9. fall — the season
  10. saw — the tool
  11. fall — to drop
  12. bear — to put up with
  13. wax — to grow
  14. suit — clothes
  15. board — to get on
  16. object — to protest
  17. wax — in the ear
  18. cap — a hat
  19. fall — to drop
  20. suit — to fit
  21. suit — in cards
  22. board — a flat piece
  23. cap — a lid
  24. wax — for sculpting

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