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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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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: mark · wax · wound · racket · face · toast · hide · bear

  1. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  2. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  3. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  4. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  5. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  6. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  7. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  8. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  9. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  10. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  11. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  12. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  13. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  14. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  15. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  16. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  17. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  18. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  19. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  20. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  21. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  22. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  23. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  24. He hit the ball with his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. toast — a drink to someone
  2. wound — past of 'wind'
  3. bear — to put up with
  4. racket — a loud noise
  5. bear — the animal
  6. wax — in the ear
  7. wax — for sculpting
  8. racket — for tennis
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. bear — the animal
  11. mark — a grade
  12. toast — the most admired
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. wound — an injury
  15. wound — an injury
  16. mark — to pay attention
  17. face — to point toward
  18. face — part of the head
  19. wax — to grow
  20. hide — animal skin
  21. face — to confront
  22. toast — bread
  23. mark — a trace
  24. racket — for tennis

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