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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. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  3. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  4. She's very handy with a ________________.
  5. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  6. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  7. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  8. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  9. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  10. When was this ________________ built?
  11. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  12. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  13. He works in a ________________ mill.
  14. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  15. There's no middle ________________.
  16. When will it ________________ you to start?
  17. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  18. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  19. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  20. The tickets are free of ________________.
  21. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  22. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  23. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  24. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. wound — an injury
  3. wound — an injury
  4. saw — the tool
  5. suit — in cards
  6. ground — the earth
  7. wax — to grow
  8. charge — electricity
  9. wax — in the ear
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. ground — crushed
  13. saw — the tool
  14. charge — in control
  15. ground — a position
  16. suit — to fit
  17. hide — to keep secret
  18. wax — for sculpting
  19. temple — side of the head
  20. charge — a price
  21. suit — clothes
  22. wound — past of 'wind'
  23. hide — to keep secret
  24. hide — animal skin

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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