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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. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  2. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  3. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  4. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  5. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  6. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  7. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  8. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  11. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  14. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  15. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  18. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  19. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  20. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  21. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  22. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  23. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  24. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.

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

Answer key

  1. can — to be able to
  2. bear — the animal
  3. face — to point toward
  4. lean — thin
  5. bear — the animal
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. face — to confront
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. can — a tin
  10. mouse — for a computer
  11. pitch — a sales talk
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. lean — to bend
  14. wax — in the ear
  15. leaves — of a tree
  16. can — a tin
  17. leaves — lets stay
  18. pitch — completely
  19. pitch — a sports field
  20. face — part of the head
  21. bear — to put up with
  22. wax — for sculpting
  23. wax — to grow
  24. lean — to rest against

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