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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. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  2. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  3. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  8. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  9. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  10. He works in a ________________ mill.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  13. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  14. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  15. The ________________ went through the wall.
  16. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  17. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  18. She's very handy with a ________________.
  19. Where did you ________________ them?
  20. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  21. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  22. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  23. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  24. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a face
  2. saw — past of 'see'
  3. wax — for sculpting
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. object — to protest
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. tear — from crying
  8. tear — to rip
  9. shower — a meteor shower
  10. saw — the tool
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. shower — to wash
  13. wax — to grow
  14. object — a thing
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. tear — from crying
  17. shower — rain
  18. saw — the tool
  19. mug — to rob
  20. wax — in the ear
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. mug — a cup
  23. object — an aim
  24. nail — on a finger

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