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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. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  2. How do you ________________ your surname?
  3. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  4. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  5. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  6. That was ________________ to happen.
  7. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  8. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  9. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  10. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  11. It's one o'clock ________________.
  12. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  16. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  19. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  20. The ________________ market has crashed.
  21. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  22. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  23. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  24. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — magic
  2. spell — letters
  3. sharp — clever
  4. spell — a short time
  5. trunk — of a tree
  6. bound — certain
  7. sharp — with an edge
  8. wax — in the ear
  9. bound — tied together
  10. toast — the most admired
  11. sharp — exactly
  12. toast — a drink to someone
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. stock — a soup base
  16. wax — for sculpting
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. trunk — of an elephant
  19. wax — to grow
  20. stock — shares
  21. bound — obliged
  22. toast — bread
  23. trunk — of a car
  24. stock — goods

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