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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 120 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. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  4. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  5. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  6. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  7. Did you ________________ the meat?
  8. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  9. What do you think of the new ________________?
  10. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  11. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  12. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  13. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  14. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  15. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  16. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  17. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  18. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  19. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  22. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  23. I can't ________________ this cold.
  24. The moon will ________________ and wane.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — a strongbox
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. stand — on your feet
  4. leaves — of a tree
  5. leaves — to go away
  6. leaves — lets stay
  7. season — to add flavour
  8. cabinet — a cupboard
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. wax — for sculpting
  11. season — of the year
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. snap — to click
  14. snap — to speak sharply
  15. deal — to handle
  16. wax — in the ear
  17. deal — an agreement
  18. season — in sport
  19. stand — for spectators
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. deal — a big deal
  22. snap — to snap out of it
  23. stand — to bear
  24. wax — to grow

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