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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. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  4. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  5. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  6. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  7. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  8. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  9. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  10. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  11. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  12. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  13. That was ________________ to happen.
  14. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  15. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  16. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  17. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  18. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  19. I've got to change the light ________________.
  20. The light ________________ burned out.
  21. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  22. There's no middle ________________.
  23. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  24. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.

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

Answer key

  1. ground — the earth
  2. bound — tied together
  3. wax — to grow
  4. ground — crushed
  5. rest — what's left
  6. bore — gave birth
  7. object — an aim
  8. object — to protest
  9. bulb — of a plant
  10. wax — in the ear
  11. wax — for sculpting
  12. snap — to snap out of it
  13. bound — certain
  14. object — a thing
  15. snap — to speak sharply
  16. snap — to click
  17. bound — obliged
  18. rest — a break
  19. bulb — for light
  20. bulb — for light
  21. bore — to tire
  22. ground — a position
  23. bore — to drill
  24. rest — what's left

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