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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 cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. When will it ________________ you to start?
  3. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  4. Have you found your soul ________________?
  5. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  6. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  7. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  8. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  9. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  10. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  11. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  12. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  13. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  14. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  15. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  16. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  17. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  18. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  19. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  20. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  21. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  22. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  23. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  24. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. suit — to fit
  3. track — a song
  4. mate — a partner
  5. mate — a friend
  6. chair — a professorship
  7. chair — to sit on
  8. mate — to breed
  9. chair — a leader
  10. fine — high quality
  11. mine — an explosive
  12. suit — in cards
  13. track — to keep track
  14. cap — of ice
  15. mine — for digging
  16. mine — belonging to me
  17. fine — all right
  18. track — a path
  19. cap — a hat
  20. fine — a penalty
  21. wax — for sculpting
  22. cap — a lid
  23. wax — to grow
  24. wax — in the ear

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