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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. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  2. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  3. What do you think of the new ________________?
  4. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  5. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  6. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  7. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  8. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  9. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  10. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  11. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  12. Have you found your soul ________________?
  13. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  14. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  15. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  16. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  17. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  18. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  19. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  20. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  21. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  22. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  23. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  24. Let us try to swim against the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mate — a friend
  2. capital — money
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. wax — in the ear
  5. mark — a grade
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. mark — a trace
  8. mark — to pay attention
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. current — electric
  11. cabinet — a cupboard
  12. mate — a partner
  13. wax — to grow
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. mate — to breed
  17. lie — to recline
  18. capital — a big letter
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. calf — of the leg
  21. capital — a city
  22. current — happening now
  23. wax — for sculpting
  24. current — of water

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