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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. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. When will it ________________ you to start?
  3. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  4. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  5. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  6. Don't do anything ________________.
  7. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  8. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  9. I've got to change the light ________________.
  10. She's very handy with a ________________.
  11. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  12. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  13. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  14. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  15. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  16. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  17. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  18. He works in a ________________ mill.
  19. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  20. The light ________________ burned out.
  21. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  22. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  23. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  24. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. suit — to fit
  3. degree — temperature
  4. rash — on the skin
  5. object — an aim
  6. rash — hasty
  7. wax — for sculpting
  8. bulb — of a plant
  9. bulb — for light
  10. saw — the tool
  11. object — a thing
  12. rash — a series
  13. mouse — for a computer
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. wax — in the ear
  16. wax — to grow
  17. suit — in cards
  18. saw — the tool
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. bulb — for light
  21. suit — clothes
  22. object — to protest
  23. degree — from a university
  24. degree — an amount

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