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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 kitten curled into a ________________.
  2. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  3. The King held a masked ________________.
  4. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. What do you think of the new ________________?
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  9. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  10. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  13. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  14. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. I've got to change the light ________________.
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  19. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  20. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  21. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  24. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a round shape
  2. wax — to grow
  3. ball — a dance
  4. band — a rubber band
  5. bulb — for light
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. cue — for pool
  9. band — a music group
  10. cabinet — a cupboard
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. wax — for sculpting
  13. cue — a hint
  14. band — a ring
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. bulb — for light
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. cue — a signal
  19. board — a committee
  20. board — a flat piece
  21. ball — a great time
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. wax — in the ear
  24. board — to get on

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