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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. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  3. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  6. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  7. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  8. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  9. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  10. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  11. What do you think of the new ________________?
  12. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  13. Have you found your soul ________________?
  14. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  15. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  16. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  17. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  18. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  19. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  20. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  21. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  22. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  23. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  24. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. wake — before a funeral
  3. wake — a trail
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. fan — to cool the air
  6. wax — to grow
  7. vault — a safe
  8. leaves — of a tree
  9. deal — to handle
  10. deal — an agreement
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. wax — in the ear
  13. mate — a partner
  14. wax — for sculpting
  15. wake — to stop sleeping
  16. vault — an arched ceiling
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. leaves — to go away
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. deal — a big deal
  22. mate — to breed
  23. vault — in gymnastics
  24. mate — a friend

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