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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 surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  2. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  3. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  4. When will it ________________ you to start?
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  7. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  8. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  9. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  10. The ________________ market has crashed.
  11. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  12. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  13. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  14. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  15. You don't need to ________________ round.
  16. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  17. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  22. The ________________ took off on time.
  23. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  24. We're almost out of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — of the sea
  2. stock — goods
  3. perch — the fish
  4. suit — to fit
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. wax — in the ear
  8. plane — a tool
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. stock — shares
  11. wave — a sudden rise
  12. stock — a soup base
  13. plane — in geometry
  14. wax — to grow
  15. pop — to visit
  16. suit — in cards
  17. pop — music
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. wax — for sculpting
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. wave — with your hand
  22. plane — an aircraft
  23. suit — clothes
  24. pop — soda

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