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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. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  2. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  3. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  4. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  5. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  6. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  7. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  8. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  9. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  10. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  11. The ________________ went through the wall.
  12. What do you think of the new ________________?
  13. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  14. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  15. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  16. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  17. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  18. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  19. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  20. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  21. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  22. How do you ________________ your surname?
  23. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  24. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. firm — a company
  2. pass — to succeed
  3. firm — steady
  4. wax — to grow
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. pass — to spend time
  9. toast — a drink to someone
  10. toast — bread
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. toast — the most admired
  14. spell — magic
  15. spell — a short time
  16. pass — a permit
  17. wax — for sculpting
  18. firm — decided
  19. nail — on a finger
  20. lie — to recline
  21. wax — in the ear
  22. spell — letters
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. cabinet — a cupboard

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