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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. It's one o'clock ________________.
  2. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  3. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  4. What do you think of the new ________________?
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  7. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  8. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  9. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  10. I can't ________________ this cold.
  11. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  14. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  15. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  16. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  17. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  20. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  21. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  22. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  23. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  24. The King held a masked ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — exactly
  2. toast — bread
  3. wax — to grow
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. can — to be able to
  6. stand — for spectators
  7. racket — a loud noise
  8. toast — a drink to someone
  9. sharp — clever
  10. stand — to bear
  11. racket — for tennis
  12. can — a tin
  13. cabinet — a cupboard
  14. ball — a great time
  15. wax — in the ear
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. ball — a round shape
  18. can — a tin
  19. racket — for tennis
  20. toast — the most admired
  21. wax — for sculpting
  22. sharp — with an edge
  23. stand — on your feet
  24. ball — a dance

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