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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. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  2. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  3. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  4. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  5. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  6. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  7. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  8. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  9. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  10. That was a fun ________________.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  13. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  14. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  17. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  18. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  19. I can't ________________ this cold.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. He works in a ________________ mill.
  22. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  23. She's very handy with a ________________.
  24. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.

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

Answer key

  1. object — a thing
  2. stand — on your feet
  3. wax — for sculpting
  4. pit — in a race
  5. foot — a measure
  6. foot — the bottom
  7. object — to protest
  8. pit — a hole
  9. foot — part of the body
  10. game — a match
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. game — wild animals
  13. pit — a fruit stone
  14. wax — to grow
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. wax — in the ear
  17. object — an aim
  18. saw — past of 'see'
  19. stand — to bear
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. saw — the tool
  22. stand — for spectators
  23. saw — the tool
  24. game — a kind of play

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