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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. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  3. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. The ________________ went through the wall.
  6. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  7. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. There's no middle ________________.
  10. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  11. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  12. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  13. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  14. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  15. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  16. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  17. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  18. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  19. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  20. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  21. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  22. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  23. When will it ________________ you to start?
  24. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. suit — in cards
  4. can — a tin
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. track — a song
  7. wax — for sculpting
  8. can — to be able to
  9. ground — a position
  10. suit — clothes
  11. track — to keep track
  12. ground — crushed
  13. ground — the earth
  14. track — a path
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. wax — to grow
  17. wax — in the ear
  18. chair — a professorship
  19. fan — to cool the air
  20. chair — to sit on
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. nail — on a finger
  23. suit — to fit
  24. chair — a leader

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