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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. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  2. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  5. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  6. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  7. The light ________________ burned out.
  8. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  9. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  10. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  11. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  14. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  15. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  16. I've got to change the light ________________.
  17. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  18. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  19. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  20. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  21. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  22. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  23. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  24. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — part of the body
  2. toast — a drink to someone
  3. current — happening now
  4. stick — to attach or keep to
  5. wax — for sculpting
  6. toast — bread
  7. bulb — for light
  8. shower — to wash
  9. toast — the most admired
  10. stick — a piece of wood
  11. rest — what's left
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. foot — the bottom
  14. wax — to grow
  15. current — electric
  16. bulb — for light
  17. current — of water
  18. rest — what's left
  19. shower — rain
  20. foot — a measure
  21. wax — in the ear
  22. stick — a piece of wood
  23. rest — a break
  24. shower — a meteor shower

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