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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. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  2. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  3. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  4. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  5. Don't do anything ________________.
  6. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  7. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  8. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  9. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  10. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  11. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  12. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  13. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  14. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  15. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  16. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  17. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  18. When will it ________________ you to start?
  19. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  20. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  21. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  22. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  23. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  24. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — to attach or keep to
  2. race — a contest
  3. stick — a piece of wood
  4. suit — clothes
  5. rash — hasty
  6. mine — for digging
  7. suit — in cards
  8. track — to keep track
  9. deal — a big deal
  10. mine — belonging to me
  11. race — the arms race
  12. deal — to handle
  13. rash — on the skin
  14. wax — in the ear
  15. rash — a series
  16. stick — a piece of wood
  17. wax — for sculpting
  18. suit — to fit
  19. track — a path
  20. track — a song
  21. wax — to grow
  22. race — humankind
  23. mine — an explosive
  24. deal — an agreement

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