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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. Have you settled on a ________________?
  2. She's very handy with a ________________.
  3. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  4. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  5. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  6. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  7. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  8. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  9. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  10. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  11. He works in a ________________ mill.
  12. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  13. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  14. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  15. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  16. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  17. Where did you ________________ them?
  18. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  19. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  20. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  21. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  24. When was this ________________ built?

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

Answer key

  1. date — on the calendar
  2. saw — the tool
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. track — a path
  5. bear — the animal
  6. temple — side of the head
  7. wax — to grow
  8. date — on the calendar
  9. wax — in the ear
  10. track — a song
  11. saw — the tool
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. date — the fruit
  14. bear — the animal
  15. mouse — for a computer
  16. saw — past of 'see'
  17. mug — to rob
  18. track — to keep track
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. mug — a cup
  21. bear — to put up with
  22. mug — a face
  23. wax — for sculpting
  24. temple — a place of worship

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