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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. Did you ________________ the meat?
  2. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  3. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  4. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  5. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  6. Have you settled on a ________________?
  7. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  8. When will it ________________ you to start?
  9. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  10. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  11. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  12. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  13. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  14. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  15. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  16. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  17. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  18. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  19. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  20. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  21. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  22. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  23. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  24. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.

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

Answer key

  1. season — to add flavour
  2. suit — in cards
  3. pass — to spend time
  4. wax — in the ear
  5. board — to get on
  6. date — on the calendar
  7. season — of the year
  8. suit — to fit
  9. face — to point toward
  10. wax — to grow
  11. mouse — for a computer
  12. wax — for sculpting
  13. date — on the calendar
  14. suit — clothes
  15. date — the fruit
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. pass — a permit
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. face — to confront
  20. board — a flat piece
  21. season — in sport
  22. face — part of the head
  23. pass — to succeed
  24. board — a committee

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