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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.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
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Word bank
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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. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  2. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  5. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. He is an ace ________________.
  8. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  9. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  10. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  11. My mare is ________________ in color.
  12. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  13. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  14. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  15. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  16. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  17. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  18. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  19. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  20. How do you ________________ your surname?
  21. I'll be taking the ________________.
  22. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  23. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  24. Fill up this ________________ with water.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — to attach or keep to
  2. mine — an explosive
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. stick — a piece of wood
  5. leaves — lets stay
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. pitcher — in baseball
  8. stick — a piece of wood
  9. tube — in a tire
  10. spell — magic
  11. bay — a horse colour
  12. spell — a short time
  13. wax — for sculpting
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. wax — in the ear
  16. mine — belonging to me
  17. mine — for digging
  18. bay — to keep at bay
  19. bay — a part of the sea
  20. spell — letters
  21. tube — the underground
  22. wax — to grow
  23. tube — a container
  24. pitcher — a jug

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