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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. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  2. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. I can't ________________ this cold.
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  9. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  10. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  11. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  12. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  13. Have you found your soul ________________?
  14. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  15. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  16. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  17. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  18. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  19. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  20. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  21. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  22. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — for sculpting
  2. mate — to breed
  3. rock — a stone
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. stand — to bear
  6. rock — music
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. wax — in the ear
  9. stand — on your feet
  10. rock — to move gently
  11. bark — to shout
  12. bark — a dog's sound
  13. mate — a partner
  14. bowl — a football final
  15. mate — a friend
  16. fine — high quality
  17. wax — to grow
  18. fine — a penalty
  19. stand — for spectators
  20. fine — all right
  21. bowl — a dish
  22. bark — of a tree
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. bowl — to roll

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