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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 works in a ________________ mill.
  2. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  3. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  4. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  5. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  6. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  7. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  8. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  9. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  10. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  11. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  12. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  13. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  14. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  15. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  16. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  17. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  18. The ________________ took off on time.
  19. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  20. She's very handy with a ________________.
  21. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  22. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  23. The ________________ market has crashed.
  24. Did you ________________ the meat?

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. wax — to grow
  3. saw — past of 'see'
  4. wax — in the ear
  5. stock — a soup base
  6. season — in sport
  7. pass — to succeed
  8. plane — a tool
  9. pass — to spend time
  10. kick — with a leg
  11. stock — goods
  12. pass — a permit
  13. plane — in geometry
  14. season — of the year
  15. kick — in football
  16. current — electric
  17. wax — for sculpting
  18. plane — an aircraft
  19. current — of water
  20. saw — the tool
  21. kick — a thrill
  22. current — happening now
  23. stock — shares
  24. season — to add flavour

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