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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. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  2. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  3. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  4. Where did you ________________ them?
  5. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  6. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  7. It's one o'clock ________________.
  8. What do you think of the new ________________?
  9. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  10. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  11. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  12. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. The tickets are free of ________________.
  15. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  16. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  17. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  18. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  19. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  23. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  24. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a tool
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. wax — to grow
  4. mug — to rob
  5. charge — in control
  6. pound — for dogs
  7. sharp — exactly
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. mug — a face
  10. pound — to hit hard
  11. wax — in the ear
  12. file — a line of people
  13. can — a tin
  14. charge — a price
  15. sharp — clever
  16. cabinet — a cupboard
  17. charge — electricity
  18. pound — a weight
  19. mug — a cup
  20. can — to be able to
  21. can — a tin
  22. sharp — with an edge
  23. file — a document
  24. wax — for sculpting

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