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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. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  2. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  5. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  6. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  7. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  8. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  9. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  10. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  11. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  12. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  13. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  14. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  17. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  18. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  19. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  20. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  23. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  24. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.

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

Answer key

  1. tear — from crying
  2. snap — to click
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. cue — a hint
  5. toast — the most admired
  6. fine — a penalty
  7. snap — to speak sharply
  8. deal — to handle
  9. toast — bread
  10. tear — to rip
  11. wax — for sculpting
  12. cue — a signal
  13. snap — to snap out of it
  14. wax — to grow
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. toast — a drink to someone
  17. tear — from crying
  18. fine — high quality
  19. fine — all right
  20. cue — for pool
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. deal — a big deal
  23. wax — in the ear
  24. deal — an agreement

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