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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. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  3. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  4. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  5. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  6. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  7. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  8. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  9. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  10. Have you settled on a ________________?
  11. Did you ________________ the meat?
  12. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  13. I've got to change the light ________________.
  14. Where did you ________________ them?
  15. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  16. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  17. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  18. The light ________________ burned out.
  19. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  20. What do you think of the new ________________?
  21. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  22. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  23. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  24. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. date — the fruit
  3. deal — to handle
  4. wax — to grow
  5. kick — a thrill
  6. kick — with a leg
  7. wax — for sculpting
  8. season — in sport
  9. mug — a face
  10. date — on the calendar
  11. season — to add flavour
  12. kick — in football
  13. bulb — for light
  14. mug — to rob
  15. mug — a cup
  16. season — of the year
  17. deal — a big deal
  18. bulb — for light
  19. date — on the calendar
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. bulb — of a plant
  22. deal — an agreement
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. wax — in the ear

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