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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. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  2. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  3. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  4. Where did you ________________ them?
  5. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  6. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  7. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  8. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  9. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  10. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  11. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  12. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  13. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  14. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  15. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  16. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  17. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  18. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  19. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  20. She's very handy with a ________________.
  21. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  22. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  23. He works in a ________________ mill.
  24. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a trace
  2. wind — moving air
  3. wax — for sculpting
  4. mug — to rob
  5. mug — a cup
  6. saw — past of 'see'
  7. wax — to grow
  8. snap — to snap out of it
  9. fine — high quality
  10. mug — a face
  11. snap — to click
  12. fine — a penalty
  13. snap — to speak sharply
  14. wind — moving air
  15. mark — to pay attention
  16. mark — a grade
  17. wind — to turn a key
  18. wave — a sudden rise
  19. wave — with your hand
  20. saw — the tool
  21. wax — in the ear
  22. fine — all right
  23. saw — the tool
  24. wave — of the sea

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