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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. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  2. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  3. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  4. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  5. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  6. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  7. You don't need to ________________ round.
  8. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  9. I can't ________________ this cold.
  10. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  11. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  12. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  13. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  14. My father caught me by the ________________.
  15. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  16. It's one o'clock ________________.
  17. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. We're almost out of ________________.
  20. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  24. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — music
  2. sharp — with an edge
  3. arm — a part of something
  4. stand — for spectators
  5. pass — to spend time
  6. wax — to grow
  7. pop — to visit
  8. arm — part of the body
  9. stand — to bear
  10. trunk — of an elephant
  11. sharp — clever
  12. wax — in the ear
  13. trunk — of a tree
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. trunk — of a car
  16. sharp — exactly
  17. pass — to succeed
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. pop — soda
  20. pass — a permit
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. stand — on your feet
  24. wax — for sculpting

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