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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 120 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. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  4. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  5. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  6. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  7. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  8. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  9. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  10. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  11. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  12. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  13. What do you think of the new ________________?
  14. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  17. I'll be taking the ________________.
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  20. Don't do anything ________________.
  21. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  22. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  23. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  24. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. lean — to bend
  4. object — to protest
  5. wax — to grow
  6. lean — thin
  7. rash — a series
  8. wax — for sculpting
  9. tube — in a tire
  10. rash — on the skin
  11. tube — a container
  12. object — an aim
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. cabinet — a cupboard
  17. tube — the underground
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. lean — to rest against
  20. rash — hasty
  21. lie — to recline
  22. object — a thing
  23. wax — in the ear
  24. lie — an untruth

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