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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'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  2. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  3. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  4. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  5. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  6. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  7. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  8. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  9. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  10. This piece is in a major ________________.
  11. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  12. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  13. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  14. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  15. The King held a masked ________________.
  16. My father caught me by the ________________.
  17. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  18. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  19. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  20. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  21. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  22. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  23. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  24. When will it ________________ you to start?

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

Answer key

  1. arm — part of the body
  2. suit — in cards
  3. wax — for sculpting
  4. wake — a trail
  5. dip — to dunk
  6. suit — clothes
  7. arm — a part of something
  8. ball — a round shape
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. key — in music
  11. dip — a sauce
  12. wax — to grow
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. dip — to sink
  15. ball — a dance
  16. arm — part of the body
  17. wake — to stop sleeping
  18. fan — to cool the air
  19. ball — a great time
  20. key — the most important part
  21. wake — before a funeral
  22. wax — in the ear
  23. key — for a lock
  24. suit — to fit

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