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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. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  2. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  3. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  4. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  5. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  6. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  7. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  8. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  9. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  10. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  11. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  12. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  13. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  14. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  15. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  16. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  17. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  18. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  19. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  20. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  21. The ________________ took off on time.
  22. Did you ________________ the meat?
  23. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  24. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — in the ear
  2. chip — in a computer
  3. plane — a tool
  4. mark — a grade
  5. plane — in geometry
  6. drill — army training
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. bowl — to roll
  9. hide — animal skin
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. chip — for betting
  12. chip — to eat
  13. drill — the tool
  14. bowl — a football final
  15. season — of the year
  16. wax — for sculpting
  17. season — in sport
  18. wax — to grow
  19. bowl — a dish
  20. drill — a practice
  21. plane — an aircraft
  22. season — to add flavour
  23. mark — a trace
  24. mark — to pay attention

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