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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. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  2. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  3. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  4. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  5. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  6. Have you met the new head ________________?
  7. The ________________ went through the wall.
  8. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  9. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  10. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  11. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  12. That must've been a ________________.
  13. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  14. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  15. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  16. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  17. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  18. That was ________________ to happen.
  19. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  20. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  21. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  22. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  23. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  24. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — for a computer
  2. face — to point toward
  3. wave — of the sea
  4. wax — for sculpting
  5. wave — a sudden rise
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. rush — hurry
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. bound — tied together
  11. nail — on a finger
  12. rush — a thrill
  13. wave — with your hand
  14. coach — pulled by horses
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. wax — to grow
  17. wax — in the ear
  18. bound — certain
  19. rush — to hurry
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. bound — obliged
  23. face — part of the head
  24. face — to confront

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