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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 124 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. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  2. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  3. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  4. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  5. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  6. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  7. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  10. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  11. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  12. Did you ________________ the button?
  13. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  14. Have you found your soul ________________?
  15. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  16. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  17. My father caught me by the ________________.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  24. Check the label for the sugar ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a grade
  2. content — videos and posts
  3. wax — to grow
  4. toast — a drink to someone
  5. mate — a friend
  6. arm — part of the body
  7. content — happy
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. wax — in the ear
  10. toast — the most admired
  11. mate — to breed
  12. press — to push
  13. press — newspapers
  14. mate — a partner
  15. arm — a part of something
  16. press — a publisher
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. toast — bread
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. wax — for sculpting
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. mark — a trace
  24. content — the amount

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