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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. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  2. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  3. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  4. Have you met the new head ________________?
  5. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  6. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  7. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  10. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  11. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  12. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  13. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  14. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  18. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  19. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  20. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  21. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  22. It's one o'clock ________________.
  23. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  24. How do you ________________ your surname?

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to succeed
  2. spell — a short time
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. sharp — with an edge
  6. wax — in the ear
  7. sharp — clever
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. wake — to stop sleeping
  10. mouse — for a computer
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. coach — pulled by horses
  13. wake — a trail
  14. pass — a permit
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. wake — before a funeral
  18. wax — to grow
  19. spell — magic
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. pass — to spend time
  22. sharp — exactly
  23. wax — for sculpting
  24. spell — letters

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