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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 moon will ________________ and wane.
  2. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  3. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  4. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  7. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  8. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  9. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  10. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  11. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  12. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  13. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  14. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  15. When will it ________________ you to start?
  16. He is an ace ________________.
  17. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. It's one o'clock ________________.
  20. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  21. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  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. wax — to grow
  2. deal — an agreement
  3. suit — clothes
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. sharp — clever
  7. wave — a sudden rise
  8. deal — to handle
  9. bear — the animal
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. wave — of the sea
  12. deal — a big deal
  13. sharp — with an edge
  14. bear — to put up with
  15. suit — to fit
  16. pitcher — in baseball
  17. wax — in the ear
  18. bulb — for light
  19. sharp — exactly
  20. wave — with your hand
  21. bear — the animal
  22. bulb — for light
  23. suit — in cards
  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