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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. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  2. He works in a ________________ mill.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  5. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  8. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  13. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  14. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  15. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  16. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  17. When are we going to ________________?
  18. She's very handy with a ________________.
  19. That was ________________ to happen.
  20. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  21. When will it ________________ you to start?
  22. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  23. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  24. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — in the ear
  2. saw — the tool
  3. can — a tin
  4. suit — clothes
  5. land — ground
  6. can — a tin
  7. present — the time now
  8. wax — to grow
  9. can — to be able to
  10. rock — a stone
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. present — a gift
  13. suit — in cards
  14. rock — music
  15. bound — obliged
  16. bound — tied together
  17. land — to come down
  18. saw — the tool
  19. bound — certain
  20. land — a country
  21. suit — to fit
  22. present — there
  23. saw — past of 'see'
  24. wax — for sculpting

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