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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 is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  2. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. What do you think of the new ________________?
  6. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  7. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  10. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  11. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  16. I've got to change the light ________________.
  17. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  18. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  19. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  20. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  21. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  22. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.

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

Answer key

  1. track — a song
  2. bulb — for light
  3. kick — a thrill
  4. can — a tin
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. wax — for sculpting
  7. track — a path
  8. can — to be able to
  9. leaves — to go away
  10. rock — to move gently
  11. rock — music
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. can — a tin
  15. track — to keep track
  16. bulb — for light
  17. wax — in the ear
  18. kick — in football
  19. rock — a stone
  20. leaves — of a tree
  21. wax — to grow
  22. cabinet — a cupboard
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. kick — with a leg

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