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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. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  2. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  3. Did you ________________ the meat?
  4. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  5. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  8. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  9. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  10. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  13. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  14. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  15. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  16. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  17. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  18. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  19. I've got to change the light ________________.
  20. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  21. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  22. This piece is in a major ________________.
  23. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  24. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — in the ear
  2. wind — moving air
  3. season — to add flavour
  4. hide — to keep secret
  5. wax — to grow
  6. bulb — for light
  7. bowl — a dish
  8. chip — for betting
  9. key — the most important part
  10. chip — in a computer
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. bowl — to roll
  13. hide — animal skin
  14. wax — for sculpting
  15. season — of the year
  16. key — for a lock
  17. bowl — a football final
  18. season — in sport
  19. bulb — for light
  20. wind — to turn a key
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. key — in music
  23. wind — moving air
  24. chip — to eat

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