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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. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  2. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  3. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  6. Have you met the new head ________________?
  7. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  8. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  9. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  10. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  11. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  12. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  13. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  16. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  17. The tickets are free of ________________.
  18. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  19. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  20. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  21. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  22. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. The moon will ________________ and wane.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. root — the cause
  3. net — for catching
  4. can — a tin
  5. wax — in the ear
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. charge — in control
  8. staff — a stick
  9. net — in sport
  10. root — of a plant
  11. face — part of the head
  12. charge — electricity
  13. staff — employees
  14. can — a tin
  15. wax — for sculpting
  16. staff — employees
  17. charge — a price
  18. root — of a word
  19. net — after costs
  20. face — to confront
  21. coach — pulled by horses
  22. face — to point toward
  23. can — to be able to
  24. wax — to grow

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