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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 all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  2. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  3. What do you think of the new ________________?
  4. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  5. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  6. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  9. Where did you ________________ them?
  10. I can't ________________ this cold.
  11. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  12. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  13. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  14. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  15. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  16. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  17. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  18. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  19. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  20. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  21. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  22. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  23. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  24. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. bear — to put up with
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. drill — the tool
  5. key — for a lock
  6. firm — steady
  7. key — in music
  8. cabinet — a cupboard
  9. mug — to rob
  10. stand — to bear
  11. stand — for spectators
  12. key — the most important part
  13. drill — a practice
  14. wax — for sculpting
  15. firm — decided
  16. firm — a company
  17. wax — to grow
  18. mug — a face
  19. drill — army training
  20. bear — the animal
  21. stand — on your feet
  22. mug — a cup
  23. bear — the animal
  24. wax — in the ear

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