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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 has no idea where the ________________ is.
  2. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  3. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  4. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  5. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  6. We're almost out of ________________.
  7. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  8. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  9. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  10. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  11. The ________________ went through the wall.
  12. You don't need to ________________ round.
  13. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  14. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  15. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  21. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  22. Where did you ________________ them?
  23. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  24. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — a strongbox
  2. wax — for sculpting
  3. wax — to grow
  4. patient — a sick person
  5. fall — to drop
  6. pop — soda
  7. fall — the season
  8. fall — to drop
  9. mug — a cup
  10. mouse — for a computer
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. pop — to visit
  13. patient — a sick person
  14. pop — music
  15. nail — on a finger
  16. mug — a face
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. wax — in the ear
  22. mug — to rob
  23. patient — calm and waiting
  24. mouse — the animal

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