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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. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  2. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  3. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  4. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  5. How do you ________________ your surname?
  6. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  7. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  8. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  9. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  10. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  11. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  12. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  13. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  14. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  15. When was this ________________ built?
  16. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  17. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  18. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  19. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  20. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  21. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  22. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  23. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  24. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — a short time
  2. dip — a sauce
  3. wax — to grow
  4. board — to get on
  5. spell — letters
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. temple — side of the head
  8. wax — for sculpting
  9. board — a flat piece
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. board — a committee
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. wave — with your hand
  14. hide — animal skin
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. wave — a sudden rise
  18. fan — to cool the air
  19. wax — in the ear
  20. wave — of the sea
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. dip — to dunk
  23. spell — magic
  24. dip — to sink

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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