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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. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  2. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  3. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  4. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  7. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  8. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  9. Where did you ________________ them?
  10. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  11. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  12. When will it ________________ you to start?
  13. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  14. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  15. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  18. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  19. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  22. I'll be taking the ________________.
  23. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  24. Do you need a ________________ with that?

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

Answer key

  1. fine — a penalty
  2. wax — in the ear
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. tube — in a tire
  5. current — happening now
  6. suit — in cards
  7. wax — to grow
  8. fine — high quality
  9. mug — to rob
  10. hand — in cards
  11. suit — clothes
  12. suit — to fit
  13. wax — for sculpting
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. tube — a container
  16. mug — a face
  17. mug — a cup
  18. lie — to recline
  19. fine — all right
  20. current — electric
  21. hand — part of the body
  22. tube — the underground
  23. current — of water
  24. hand — help

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