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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. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  2. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  3. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  4. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  5. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  6. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  7. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  10. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  11. Have you met the new head ________________?
  12. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  13. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  14. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  15. That was a fun ________________.
  16. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  17. When was this ________________ built?
  18. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  21. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  22. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  23. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  24. We were using a ________________ as a seat.

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

Answer key

  1. game — wild animals
  2. rest — what's left
  3. rest — a break
  4. wax — for sculpting
  5. leaves — lets stay
  6. wax — to grow
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. wax — in the ear
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. rest — what's left
  14. rock — music
  15. game — a match
  16. coach — pulled by horses
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. mouse — for a computer
  21. temple — side of the head
  22. game — a kind of play
  23. leaves — of a tree
  24. rock — a stone

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