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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. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  2. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  3. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  4. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  5. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  6. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  7. Where did you ________________ them?
  8. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  9. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  10. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  11. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  12. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  13. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  14. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  15. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  16. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  17. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  18. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  19. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  20. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  21. Did you ________________ the meat?
  22. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  23. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  24. A ________________ is just a dried plum.

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

Answer key

  1. season — in sport
  2. pass — a permit
  3. cap — a lid
  4. mug — a cup
  5. wax — for sculpting
  6. fine — all right
  7. mug — to rob
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. cap — a hat
  10. cap — of ice
  11. prune — to trim
  12. pass — to succeed
  13. fine — high quality
  14. mug — a face
  15. prune — to trim
  16. wax — in the ear
  17. fine — a penalty
  18. pass — to spend time
  19. season — of the year
  20. wax — to grow
  21. season — to add flavour
  22. mouse — for a computer
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. prune — the fruit

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