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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. It's one o'clock ________________.
  2. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  3. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  4. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  5. He works in a ________________ mill.
  6. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  7. There's no middle ________________.
  8. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  9. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  10. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  11. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  12. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  13. She's very handy with a ________________.
  14. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  15. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  16. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  17. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  18. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  19. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  20. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  21. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  22. Where did you ________________ them?
  23. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  24. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — exactly
  2. deal — to handle
  3. wound — past of 'wind'
  4. ground — crushed
  5. saw — the tool
  6. saw — past of 'see'
  7. ground — a position
  8. wax — for sculpting
  9. patient — a sick person
  10. deal — an agreement
  11. ground — the earth
  12. sharp — with an edge
  13. saw — the tool
  14. patient — a sick person
  15. deal — a big deal
  16. sharp — clever
  17. wound — an injury
  18. mug — a cup
  19. mug — a face
  20. wound — an injury
  21. patient — calm and waiting
  22. mug — to rob
  23. wax — to grow
  24. wax — in the ear

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