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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 116 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. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  5. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  6. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  7. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  8. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  9. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  10. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  11. Did you ________________ the meat?
  12. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  13. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  14. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  19. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  20. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  23. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  24. When will it ________________ you to start?

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

Answer key

  1. wax — in the ear
  2. shower — a meteor shower
  3. rock — a stone
  4. shower — to wash
  5. suit — clothes
  6. rush — hurry
  7. suit — in cards
  8. wax — for sculpting
  9. rock — music
  10. wax — to grow
  11. season — to add flavour
  12. patient — a sick person
  13. patient — a sick person
  14. season — of the year
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. shower — rain
  19. season — in sport
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. mouse — for a computer
  23. patient — calm and waiting
  24. suit — to fit

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