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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 party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  3. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  4. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  5. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  8. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  9. The light ________________ burned out.
  10. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  11. I can't ________________ this cold.
  12. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  13. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  14. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  15. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  16. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  17. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  18. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  19. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  20. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  21. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  22. Don't do anything ________________.
  23. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  24. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — a series
  2. firm — steady
  3. stand — for spectators
  4. rash — on the skin
  5. mark — a grade
  6. bulb — for light
  7. stand — on your feet
  8. wax — to grow
  9. bulb — for light
  10. face — to point toward
  11. stand — to bear
  12. mark — a trace
  13. wax — for sculpting
  14. jam — a tight spot
  15. firm — a company
  16. mark — to pay attention
  17. jam — to spread on bread
  18. firm — decided
  19. face — part of the head
  20. face — to confront
  21. wax — in the ear
  22. rash — hasty
  23. jam — in traffic
  24. bulb — of a plant

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