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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. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  2. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  3. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  4. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  5. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  6. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  7. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  8. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  9. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  10. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  11. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  12. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  13. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  18. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  21. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  22. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  23. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  24. Where did you ________________ them?

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

Answer key

  1. degree — temperature
  2. deal — a big deal
  3. wax — to grow
  4. deal — to handle
  5. scale — for weighing
  6. scale — size or range
  7. degree — an amount
  8. mug — a face
  9. wax — in the ear
  10. net — in sport
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. net — after costs
  13. scale — in music
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. wax — for sculpting
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. mug — a cup
  18. degree — from a university
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. lie — to recline
  21. net — for catching
  22. deal — an agreement
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. mug — to rob

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