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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.

Make a worksheet

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'd like to play a game of ________________.
  2. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  3. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  4. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  5. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  6. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  11. The ________________ went through the wall.
  12. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  13. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  14. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  15. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  16. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  17. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  18. Did you ________________ the meat?
  19. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  20. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  21. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  24. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.

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

Answer key

  1. squash — the sport
  2. squash — the vegetable
  3. wave — with your hand
  4. rest — a break
  5. wax — to grow
  6. rest — what's left
  7. can — to be able to
  8. rest — what's left
  9. can — a tin
  10. nail — on a finger
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. spring — a coil
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. season — in sport
  15. spring — the season
  16. wax — in the ear
  17. wave — a sudden rise
  18. season — to add flavour
  19. wave — of the sea
  20. spring — of water
  21. squash — to crush
  22. can — a tin
  23. season — of the year
  24. wax — for sculpting

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