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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. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  2. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  3. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  4. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  5. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  6. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  7. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  8. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  9. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  10. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  11. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  12. The ball is in your ________________.
  13. That was ________________ to happen.
  14. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  15. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  16. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  17. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  18. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  19. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  20. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  21. I can't ________________ this cold.
  22. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  23. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  24. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.

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

Answer key

  1. wound — an injury
  2. hand — help
  3. mark — a grade
  4. wound — past of 'wind'
  5. mark — to pay attention
  6. wax — for sculpting
  7. mark — a trace
  8. mouse — for a computer
  9. court — of a king
  10. hand — in cards
  11. stand — on your feet
  12. court — for sport
  13. bound — certain
  14. court — of law
  15. bound — tied together
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. bound — obliged
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. wax — to grow
  20. stand — for spectators
  21. stand — to bear
  22. wax — in the ear
  23. hand — part of the body
  24. wound — an injury

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