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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. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  2. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  3. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  4. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  5. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  6. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  7. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  8. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  9. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  10. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  11. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  12. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  13. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  14. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  15. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  16. The ________________ went through the wall.
  17. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  18. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  19. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  20. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  21. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  22. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  23. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  24. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — lets stay
  2. wound — an injury
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. wax — to grow
  5. calf — of the leg
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. lie — to recline
  8. chip — to eat
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. wound — an injury
  12. chip — in a computer
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. fan — to cool the air
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. leaves — to go away
  18. leaves — of a tree
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. wax — in the ear
  21. chip — for betting
  22. wax — for sculpting
  23. wound — past of 'wind'
  24. nail — on a finger

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