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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 120 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 refilled his coffee ________________.
  2. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  3. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  4. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  5. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  6. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  7. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  8. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  9. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  10. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  11. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  12. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  13. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  14. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  15. I can't ________________ this cold.
  16. The light ________________ burned out.
  17. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  18. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  19. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  20. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  21. Where did you ________________ them?
  22. That must've been a ________________.
  23. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  24. I've got to change the light ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a cup
  2. present — there
  3. wax — for sculpting
  4. wake — to stop sleeping
  5. rush — hurry
  6. wax — in the ear
  7. board — a committee
  8. bulb — of a plant
  9. rush — to hurry
  10. board — to get on
  11. board — a flat piece
  12. present — the time now
  13. present — a gift
  14. wake — a trail
  15. stand — to bear
  16. bulb — for light
  17. wake — before a funeral
  18. stand — on your feet
  19. mug — a face
  20. wax — to grow
  21. mug — to rob
  22. rush — a thrill
  23. stand — for spectators
  24. bulb — for light

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