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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: pop · mug · file · wound · object · season · wax · scale

  1. Did you ________________ the meat?
  2. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  3. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  4. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  5. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  6. You don't need to ________________ round.
  7. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  8. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  9. We're almost out of ________________.
  10. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  11. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  12. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  13. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  14. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  15. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  16. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  17. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  18. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  19. Where did you ________________ them?
  20. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  21. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  22. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  23. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  24. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.

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

Answer key

  1. season — to add flavour
  2. file — a document
  3. object — a thing
  4. scale — for weighing
  5. wax — to grow
  6. pop — to visit
  7. mug — a cup
  8. wax — in the ear
  9. pop — soda
  10. object — an aim
  11. wound — an injury
  12. pop — music
  13. file — a tool
  14. file — a line of people
  15. scale — in music
  16. wax — for sculpting
  17. mug — a face
  18. wound — past of 'wind'
  19. mug — to rob
  20. object — to protest
  21. scale — size or range
  22. season — in sport
  23. season — of the year
  24. wound — an injury

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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