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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. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  2. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  3. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  4. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  5. We're almost out of ________________.
  6. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  11. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  12. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  13. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  14. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  15. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  16. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  17. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  18. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  19. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  20. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  21. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  22. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  23. You don't need to ________________ round.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. wave — with your hand
  3. wax — to grow
  4. pop — music
  5. pop — soda
  6. mine — belonging to me
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. net — in sport
  9. rock — a stone
  10. net — for catching
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. wave — of the sea
  13. mine — for digging
  14. wax — in the ear
  15. lie — to recline
  16. pit — a hole
  17. mine — an explosive
  18. pit — a fruit stone
  19. pit — in a race
  20. wave — a sudden rise
  21. wax — for sculpting
  22. net — after costs
  23. pop — to visit
  24. rock — music

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