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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. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  2. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  3. She's very handy with a ________________.
  4. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  5. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  6. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  7. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  8. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  9. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  10. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  11. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  12. Have you found your soul ________________?
  13. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  14. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  15. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  16. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  17. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  18. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  19. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  20. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  21. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  22. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  23. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  24. He works in a ________________ mill.

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

Answer key

  1. wound — an injury
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. saw — the tool
  4. bear — to put up with
  5. face — to point toward
  6. toast — the most admired
  7. mouse — for a computer
  8. toast — bread
  9. wax — in the ear
  10. wax — to grow
  11. bear — the animal
  12. mate — a partner
  13. saw — past of 'see'
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. wax — for sculpting
  16. toast — a drink to someone
  17. mate — to breed
  18. face — part of the head
  19. wound — past of 'wind'
  20. face — to confront
  21. bear — the animal
  22. mate — a friend
  23. wound — an injury
  24. saw — the tool

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