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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 116 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. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  2. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  3. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  4. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  5. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  6. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  7. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  8. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  9. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  10. She's very handy with a ________________.
  11. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  12. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  13. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  14. The ball is in your ________________.
  15. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  16. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  17. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  18. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  19. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  20. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  21. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  22. He works in a ________________ mill.
  23. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  24. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. court — of a king
  2. face — to confront
  3. wax — to grow
  4. board — a flat piece
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. face — part of the head
  7. chip — in a computer
  8. saw — past of 'see'
  9. pass — a permit
  10. saw — the tool
  11. chip — for betting
  12. court — of law
  13. board — to get on
  14. court — for sport
  15. board — a committee
  16. pass — to spend time
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. pass — to succeed
  19. face — to point toward
  20. wax — for sculpting
  21. chip — to eat
  22. saw — the tool
  23. mouse — for a computer
  24. wax — in the ear

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