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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 got the top ________________ in the exam.
  2. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  3. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  4. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  5. That was ________________ to happen.
  6. He is an ace ________________.
  7. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  8. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  9. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  12. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  13. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  14. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  15. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  16. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  19. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  20. When will it ________________ you to start?
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  23. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a grade
  2. wax — to grow
  3. bound — obliged
  4. rock — music
  5. bound — certain
  6. pitcher — in baseball
  7. staff — employees
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. rush — to hurry
  10. suit — in cards
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. staff — a stick
  13. bound — tied together
  14. rock — a stone
  15. staff — employees
  16. mark — a trace
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. mark — to pay attention
  19. suit — clothes
  20. suit — to fit
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. wax — in the ear
  23. wax — for sculpting
  24. rush — hurry

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