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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. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  4. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  9. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  12. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  13. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  14. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  15. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  16. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  17. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  18. The light ________________ burned out.
  19. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  20. I've got to change the light ________________.
  21. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. That must've been a ________________.
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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. wax — to grow
  4. shower — rain
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. row — a line
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. wake — to stop sleeping
  9. rush — to hurry
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. row — a quarrel
  12. shower — a meteor shower
  13. wake — a trail
  14. leaves — lets stay
  15. shower — to wash
  16. bulb — of a plant
  17. wax — in the ear
  18. bulb — for light
  19. wake — before a funeral
  20. bulb — for light
  21. row — to paddle
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. rush — a thrill
  24. rush — hurry

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