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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. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  2. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  3. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  4. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  5. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  6. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  7. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  8. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  9. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  10. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  11. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  12. The tickets are free of ________________.
  13. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  16. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  17. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  18. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  19. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  20. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  21. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  22. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  23. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  24. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. mouse — for a computer
  3. lie — to recline
  4. wax — in the ear
  5. hand — in cards
  6. mark — to pay attention
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. trunk — of a tree
  9. mark — a trace
  10. wax — to grow
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. charge — a price
  13. wax — for sculpting
  14. mark — a grade
  15. bore — to drill
  16. charge — electricity
  17. bore — gave birth
  18. trunk — of a car
  19. hand — help
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. bore — to tire
  22. charge — in control
  23. trunk — of an elephant
  24. hand — part of the body

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