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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. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  2. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  3. He is an ace ________________.
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  6. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  7. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  10. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  11. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  12. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  13. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  14. This piece is in a major ________________.
  15. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  16. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  17. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  18. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  19. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  20. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  21. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — to go away
  2. rest — what's left
  3. pitcher — in baseball
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. rest — what's left
  6. wax — to grow
  7. leaves — of a tree
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. pitch — a sports field
  10. rest — a break
  11. key — for a lock
  12. lean — to bend
  13. lean — to rest against
  14. key — in music
  15. wax — in the ear
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. wax — for sculpting
  18. lean — thin
  19. key — the most important part
  20. pitch — completely
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. pitch — a sales talk
  24. safe — out of danger

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