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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. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  2. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  3. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  4. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  5. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  8. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  9. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  10. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  11. What do you think of the new ________________?
  12. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  16. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  17. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  18. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  21. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  22. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  23. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  24. When will it ________________ you to start?

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

Answer key

  1. track — a song
  2. cabinet — a cupboard
  3. suit — clothes
  4. wax — for sculpting
  5. leaves — lets stay
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. wax — to grow
  8. suit — in cards
  9. band — a ring
  10. trunk — of an elephant
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. track — a path
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. band — a rubber band
  16. leaves — of a tree
  17. wax — in the ear
  18. band — a music group
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. trunk — of a car
  21. trunk — of a tree
  22. track — to keep track
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. suit — to fit

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