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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. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  2. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  3. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  4. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  5. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  6. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  7. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  8. We're almost out of ________________.
  9. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  10. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  11. I've got to change the light ________________.
  12. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  13. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  14. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  15. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  16. The ball is in your ________________.
  17. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  18. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  19. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  20. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  21. You don't need to ________________ round.
  22. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  23. The light ________________ burned out.
  24. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. pit — in a race
  2. wax — to grow
  3. court — of law
  4. stick — a piece of wood
  5. toast — the most admired
  6. rest — what's left
  7. pop — music
  8. pop — soda
  9. pit — a hole
  10. toast — bread
  11. bulb — for light
  12. stick — to attach or keep to
  13. wax — for sculpting
  14. wax — in the ear
  15. bulb — of a plant
  16. court — for sport
  17. rest — what's left
  18. rest — a break
  19. toast — a drink to someone
  20. stick — a piece of wood
  21. pop — to visit
  22. court — of a king
  23. bulb — for light
  24. pit — a fruit stone

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