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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. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  3. The light ________________ burned out.
  4. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  5. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  6. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  7. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  8. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. Don't do anything ________________.
  11. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  12. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  13. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  16. My mare is ________________ in color.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. He is an ace ________________.
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. What do you think of the new ________________?
  21. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  22. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  23. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  24. I've got to change the light ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. rash — on the skin
  3. bulb — for light
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. wax — to grow
  6. mark — to pay attention
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. bay — a part of the sea
  9. can — a tin
  10. rash — hasty
  11. rash — a series
  12. mark — a trace
  13. wax — for sculpting
  14. can — to be able to
  15. bay — to keep at bay
  16. bay — a horse colour
  17. can — a tin
  18. pitcher — in baseball
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. wax — in the ear
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. mark — a grade
  24. bulb — for light

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