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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. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  2. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  3. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  4. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  5. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  6. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  7. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  8. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  9. Have you met the new head ________________?
  10. The ________________ took off on time.
  11. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  14. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  15. I've got to change the light ________________.
  16. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  17. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  18. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  21. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  22. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  23. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  24. The light ________________ burned out.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — to spread on bread
  2. wax — in the ear
  3. drill — army training
  4. staff — employees
  5. staff — a stick
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. jam — in traffic
  8. plane — a tool
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. plane — an aircraft
  11. drill — a practice
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. staff — employees
  14. wax — for sculpting
  15. bulb — for light
  16. rock — a stone
  17. drill — the tool
  18. wax — to grow
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. jam — a tight spot
  21. coach — pulled by horses
  22. rock — music
  23. plane — in geometry
  24. bulb — for light

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