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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.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: cabinet · bulb · wax · patient · lie · mug · wave · sharp

  1. Where did you ________________ them?
  2. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  3. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  4. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  5. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  6. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  7. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  8. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  9. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  10. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  13. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  14. The light ________________ burned out.
  15. It's one o'clock ________________.
  16. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  17. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  18. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  19. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  20. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  23. What do you think of the new ________________?
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — to rob
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. wax — in the ear
  4. wave — of the sea
  5. sharp — with an edge
  6. patient — a sick person
  7. patient — a sick person
  8. wave — with your hand
  9. sharp — clever
  10. bulb — of a plant
  11. mug — a cup
  12. wax — to grow
  13. wave — a sudden rise
  14. bulb — for light
  15. sharp — exactly
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. cabinet — a cupboard
  18. patient — calm and waiting
  19. wax — for sculpting
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. bulb — for light
  22. lie — to recline
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. mug — a face

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