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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. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  2. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  3. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  4. He works in a ________________ mill.
  5. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  6. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  7. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  8. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  9. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  10. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  11. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  12. She's very handy with a ________________.
  13. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  14. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  15. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  16. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  17. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  18. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  19. Where did you ________________ them?
  20. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  21. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  22. My father caught me by the ________________.
  23. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  24. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — for a computer
  2. content — videos and posts
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. saw — the tool
  5. arm — a part of something
  6. mug — a face
  7. arm — part of the body
  8. patient — calm and waiting
  9. mug — a cup
  10. patient — a sick person
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. saw — the tool
  13. content — the amount
  14. wax — to grow
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. patient — a sick person
  17. fan — to cool the air
  18. content — happy
  19. mug — to rob
  20. wax — in the ear
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. saw — past of 'see'
  24. wax — for sculpting

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