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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. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  2. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  3. The ________________ went through the wall.
  4. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  5. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  6. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  7. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  8. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  9. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  10. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  11. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  12. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  13. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  14. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  15. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  16. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  17. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  18. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  19. The tickets are free of ________________.
  20. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  21. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  22. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  23. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  24. I have a corn on my right ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — all right
  2. foot — a measure
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. vault — a safe
  5. wax — to grow
  6. wax — in the ear
  7. nail — on a finger
  8. charge — electricity
  9. vault — in gymnastics
  10. patient — a sick person
  11. fine — high quality
  12. fine — a penalty
  13. foot — the bottom
  14. march — music
  15. charge — in control
  16. vault — an arched ceiling
  17. march — the month
  18. patient — a sick person
  19. charge — a price
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. wax — for sculpting
  22. march — the month
  23. patient — calm and waiting
  24. foot — part of the body

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