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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. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  2. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  5. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  6. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  7. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  8. I'll be taking the ________________.
  9. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  10. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  11. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  12. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  13. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  14. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  15. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  16. My mare is ________________ in color.
  17. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  19. This piece is in a major ________________.
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  22. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  23. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  24. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. wax — to grow
  3. mark — a trace
  4. tube — in a tire
  5. mark — a grade
  6. jam — a tight spot
  7. wax — in the ear
  8. tube — the underground
  9. fan — to cool the air
  10. wax — for sculpting
  11. bay — a part of the sea
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. chair — a professorship
  14. chair — to sit on
  15. key — the most important part
  16. bay — a horse colour
  17. jam — in traffic
  18. mark — to pay attention
  19. key — in music
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. key — for a lock
  23. chair — a leader
  24. tube — a container

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