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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 ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  2. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  3. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  4. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  5. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  6. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  7. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  8. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  9. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  10. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  11. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  14. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  15. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  16. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  17. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  18. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  19. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  20. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  21. What do you think of the new ________________?
  22. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  23. That must've been a ________________.
  24. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a plant
  2. wax — to grow
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. wax — for sculpting
  7. wave — of the sea
  8. pit — in a race
  9. wax — in the ear
  10. wave — with your hand
  11. drill — army training
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. root — of a word
  14. drill — a practice
  15. drill — the tool
  16. pit — a hole
  17. mouse — for a computer
  18. cabinet — a cupboard
  19. rush — hurry
  20. root — the cause
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. pit — a fruit stone
  23. rush — a thrill
  24. wave — a sudden rise

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