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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. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  2. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  3. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  4. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  5. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  6. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  7. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  8. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  9. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  10. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  11. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  12. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  13. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  14. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  15. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  16. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  17. The ________________ took off on time.
  18. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  19. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  20. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  21. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  22. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  23. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  24. The moon will ________________ and wane.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — a tight spot
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. lean — to rest against
  4. staff — employees
  5. wax — for sculpting
  6. net — for catching
  7. net — after costs
  8. firm — a company
  9. firm — decided
  10. plane — in geometry
  11. jam — in traffic
  12. net — in sport
  13. lean — to bend
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. firm — steady
  16. mouse — for a computer
  17. plane — an aircraft
  18. plane — a tool
  19. lean — thin
  20. staff — employees
  21. jam — to spread on bread
  22. wax — in the ear
  23. staff — a stick
  24. wax — to grow

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