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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. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  2. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  3. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  4. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  5. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  6. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  7. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  8. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  9. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  10. The ________________ took off on time.
  11. I can't ________________ this cold.
  12. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  13. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  14. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  15. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  16. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  17. When was this ________________ built?
  18. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  19. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  20. The tickets are free of ________________.
  21. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  22. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  23. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  24. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — to grow
  2. plane — in geometry
  3. wax — in the ear
  4. charge — electricity
  5. face — part of the head
  6. board — a committee
  7. face — to point toward
  8. bear — the animal
  9. stand — on your feet
  10. plane — an aircraft
  11. stand — to bear
  12. board — a flat piece
  13. plane — a tool
  14. stand — for spectators
  15. bear — the animal
  16. board — to get on
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. face — to confront
  19. temple — side of the head
  20. charge — a price
  21. wax — for sculpting
  22. bear — to put up with
  23. charge — in control
  24. temple — a place of worship

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