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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. I can't ________________ this cold.
  2. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  3. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  9. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  10. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  11. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  14. She's very handy with a ________________.
  15. He works in a ________________ mill.
  16. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  19. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  20. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  23. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  24. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — to bear
  2. wax — in the ear
  3. stand — on your feet
  4. can — a tin
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. wax — to grow
  7. can — a tin
  8. staff — a stick
  9. wax — for sculpting
  10. staff — employees
  11. bowl — a football final
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. vault — an arched ceiling
  14. saw — the tool
  15. saw — the tool
  16. bowl — a dish
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. stand — for spectators
  19. bowl — to roll
  20. staff — employees
  21. can — to be able to
  22. saw — past of 'see'
  23. vault — in gymnastics
  24. vault — a safe

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