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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. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  2. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  3. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  4. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  5. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  6. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  7. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  8. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  9. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  10. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  11. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  12. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  16. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  17. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. That must've been a ________________.
  22. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  23. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  24. That was ________________ to happen.

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

Answer key

  1. object — a thing
  2. object — an aim
  3. pass — a permit
  4. bound — obliged
  5. pass — to spend time
  6. rest — what's left
  7. object — to protest
  8. bound — tied together
  9. pass — to succeed
  10. rest — what's left
  11. wax — in the ear
  12. mine — an explosive
  13. rush — hurry
  14. can — a tin
  15. mine — belonging to me
  16. mine — for digging
  17. wax — for sculpting
  18. can — a tin
  19. can — to be able to
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. rush — a thrill
  22. wax — to grow
  23. rest — a break
  24. bound — certain

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