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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. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  2. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  3. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  4. Where did you ________________ them?
  5. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  6. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  7. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  8. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  9. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  10. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  11. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  12. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  13. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  14. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  15. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  16. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  17. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  18. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  19. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  20. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  21. When was this ________________ built?
  22. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  23. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — in the ear
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. foot — the bottom
  4. mug — to rob
  5. wax — to grow
  6. prune — to trim
  7. wake — to stop sleeping
  8. wake — before a funeral
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. wax — for sculpting
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. foot — a measure
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. wake — a trail
  15. patient — a sick person
  16. prune — the fruit
  17. patient — calm and waiting
  18. temple — side of the head
  19. prune — to trim
  20. foot — part of the body
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. ruler — a monarch
  23. mug — a cup
  24. mug — a face

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