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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. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  2. He is an ace ________________.
  3. The light ________________ burned out.
  4. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  5. She's very handy with a ________________.
  6. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  7. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  8. When was this ________________ built?
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  14. I've got to change the light ________________.
  15. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  16. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  17. He works in a ________________ mill.
  18. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  19. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  20. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  21. What do you think of the new ________________?
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  24. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — a jug
  2. pitcher — in baseball
  3. bulb — for light
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. saw — the tool
  6. saw — past of 'see'
  7. wax — to grow
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. rock — to move gently
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. temple — side of the head
  14. bulb — for light
  15. wax — for sculpting
  16. rock — a stone
  17. saw — the tool
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. rock — music
  20. cabinet — a cupboard
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. wax — in the ear
  24. temple — a place of worship

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