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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 116 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. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  2. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  3. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  4. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  5. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  6. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  9. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  10. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  11. I've got to change the light ________________.
  12. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  15. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  16. The light ________________ burned out.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  19. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  20. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  21. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  22. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. It's one o'clock ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. wax — in the ear
  3. board — a flat piece
  4. file — a line of people
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. board — a committee
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. file — a document
  9. board — to get on
  10. track — a path
  11. bulb — for light
  12. sharp — with an edge
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. sharp — clever
  15. track — to keep track
  16. bulb — for light
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. wax — for sculpting
  19. track — a song
  20. wax — to grow
  21. file — a tool
  22. mouse — for a computer
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. sharp — exactly

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