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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. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  2. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  3. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  4. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  5. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  6. Where did you ________________ them?
  7. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  8. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  9. I've got to change the light ________________.
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  12. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  13. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  14. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  15. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  16. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  17. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  18. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  19. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  20. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  21. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  22. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  23. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  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. firm — a company
  2. lie — to recline
  3. fine — all right
  4. chip — in a computer
  5. branch — of a bank
  6. mug — to rob
  7. fine — high quality
  8. firm — decided
  9. bulb — for light
  10. bulb — for light
  11. chip — to eat
  12. wax — to grow
  13. fine — a penalty
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. chip — for betting
  16. firm — steady
  17. wax — in the ear
  18. mug — a face
  19. branch — a division
  20. mug — a cup
  21. bulb — of a plant
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. branch — of a tree
  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