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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 can't ________________ this cold.
  2. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  3. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  4. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  5. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  6. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  7. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  8. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  9. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  10. Where did you ________________ them?
  11. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  12. It's one o'clock ________________.
  13. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  14. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  15. When will it ________________ you to start?
  16. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  17. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  18. The ________________ market has crashed.
  19. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  20. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  21. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  22. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  23. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  24. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — to bear
  2. wax — in the ear
  3. stock — a soup base
  4. stand — on your feet
  5. dip — a sauce
  6. wax — to grow
  7. stand — for spectators
  8. mug — a face
  9. board — a committee
  10. mug — to rob
  11. suit — clothes
  12. sharp — exactly
  13. mug — a cup
  14. sharp — with an edge
  15. suit — to fit
  16. wax — for sculpting
  17. sharp — clever
  18. stock — shares
  19. board — a flat piece
  20. stock — goods
  21. board — to get on
  22. dip — to sink
  23. dip — to dunk
  24. suit — in cards

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