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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. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  2. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  3. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  4. That must've been a ________________.
  5. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  6. The ________________ took off on time.
  7. The tickets are free of ________________.
  8. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  9. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  10. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  11. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  12. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  13. Where did you ________________ them?
  14. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  15. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  16. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  17. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  18. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  19. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  24. The moon will ________________ and wane.

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

Answer key

  1. wind — moving air
  2. wind — to turn a key
  3. fan — to cool the air
  4. rush — a thrill
  5. mug — a cup
  6. plane — an aircraft
  7. charge — a price
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. charge — electricity
  10. plane — in geometry
  11. wax — in the ear
  12. rush — hurry
  13. mug — to rob
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. wax — for sculpting
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. wind — moving air
  19. plane — a tool
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. charge — in control
  22. mug — a face
  23. lie — to recline
  24. wax — to grow

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