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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 met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  2. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  3. Don't do anything ________________.
  4. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  5. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  6. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  7. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  8. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  9. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  10. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  11. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  12. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  13. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  14. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  15. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  16. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  17. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  18. When will it ________________ you to start?
  19. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  20. Have you found your soul ________________?
  21. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  22. He is an ace ________________.
  23. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  24. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?

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

Answer key

  1. mine — belonging to me
  2. mine — an explosive
  3. rash — hasty
  4. suit — clothes
  5. board — a flat piece
  6. suit — in cards
  7. mine — for digging
  8. object — an aim
  9. rash — a series
  10. object — a thing
  11. wax — in the ear
  12. board — a committee
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. board — to get on
  15. mate — to breed
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. wax — for sculpting
  18. suit — to fit
  19. object — to protest
  20. mate — a partner
  21. wax — to grow
  22. pitcher — in baseball
  23. rash — on the skin
  24. mate — a friend

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