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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. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  4. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  5. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  8. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  9. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  10. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  11. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  12. That must've been a ________________.
  13. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  16. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  17. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  18. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  21. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  22. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  23. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  24. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — for sculpting
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. wave — a sudden rise
  4. suit — clothes
  5. wax — to grow
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. wave — with your hand
  8. rush — to hurry
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. rush — a thrill
  13. wax — in the ear
  14. mark — a grade
  15. ruler — a monarch
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. rush — hurry
  18. wave — of the sea
  19. suit — to fit
  20. mark — to pay attention
  21. leaves — lets stay
  22. fan — to cool the air
  23. suit — in cards
  24. mark — a trace

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