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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. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  2. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  3. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  4. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  5. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  6. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  7. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  8. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  9. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  10. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  11. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  12. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  13. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  14. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  15. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  16. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  17. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  18. That was ________________ to happen.
  19. Where did you ________________ them?
  20. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  21. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  22. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  23. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  24. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.

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

Answer key

  1. firm — a company
  2. object — to protest
  3. track — to keep track
  4. track — a path
  5. bore — to drill
  6. wax — in the ear
  7. wax — to grow
  8. firm — steady
  9. fork — to eat with
  10. bound — obliged
  11. object — an aim
  12. track — a song
  13. bore — gave birth
  14. bore — to tire
  15. wax — for sculpting
  16. object — a thing
  17. fork — in a road
  18. bound — certain
  19. mug — to rob
  20. mug — a face
  21. fork — a garden tool
  22. mug — a cup
  23. firm — decided
  24. bound — tied together

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