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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. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  2. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  3. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  4. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  5. It's one o'clock ________________.
  6. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  7. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  8. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  9. My father caught me by the ________________.
  10. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  11. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  12. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. I can't ________________ this cold.
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  19. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  20. I've got to change the light ________________.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  23. That must've been a ________________.
  24. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?

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

Answer key

  1. wax — to grow
  2. bulb — of a plant
  3. arm — a part of something
  4. rush — to hurry
  5. sharp — exactly
  6. rush — hurry
  7. sharp — with an edge
  8. wax — for sculpting
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. sharp — clever
  11. stand — on your feet
  12. bore — gave birth
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. stand — to bear
  17. bulb — for light
  18. bore — to drill
  19. wax — in the ear
  20. bulb — for light
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. stand — for spectators
  23. rush — a thrill
  24. bore — to tire

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