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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 speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  2. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  3. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  4. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  5. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  6. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  7. When are we going to ________________?
  8. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  9. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  10. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  11. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  12. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  13. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  14. The ________________ market has crashed.
  15. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  16. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  17. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  18. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  19. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  20. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  21. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  22. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  23. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  24. What was your ________________ profit last year?

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

Answer key

  1. wake — a trail
  2. net — for catching
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. net — in sport
  5. fine — all right
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. land — to come down
  8. lie — to recline
  9. stock — a soup base
  10. land — a country
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. wax — to grow
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. stock — shares
  15. wax — in the ear
  16. wax — for sculpting
  17. stock — goods
  18. fine — high quality
  19. wake — to stop sleeping
  20. wake — before a funeral
  21. fine — a penalty
  22. mouse — for a computer
  23. land — ground
  24. net — after costs

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