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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. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  2. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  3. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  6. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. He works in a ________________ mill.
  9. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  10. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  11. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  12. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  13. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  14. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  15. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  16. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  17. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  18. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  19. The ________________ went through the wall.
  20. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  21. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  22. She's very handy with a ________________.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.

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

Answer key

  1. wound — past of 'wind'
  2. racket — for tennis
  3. track — a song
  4. can — a tin
  5. saw — past of 'see'
  6. track — to keep track
  7. can — to be able to
  8. saw — the tool
  9. track — a path
  10. racket — for tennis
  11. wax — to grow
  12. wax — in the ear
  13. wound — an injury
  14. racket — a loud noise
  15. bowl — to roll
  16. nail — on a finger
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. bowl — a football final
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. bowl — a dish
  21. wound — an injury
  22. saw — the tool
  23. can — a tin
  24. wax — for sculpting

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