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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: wax · mark · content · chair · perch · bound · face · bulb

  1. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  2. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  3. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  4. The light ________________ burned out.
  5. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  6. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  9. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  10. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  11. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  12. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  13. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  14. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  15. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  16. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  17. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  18. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  19. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  20. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  21. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  22. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  23. I've got to change the light ________________.
  24. That was ________________ to happen.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — in the ear
  2. content — videos and posts
  3. chair — to sit on
  4. bulb — for light
  5. mark — a trace
  6. face — to confront
  7. mark — a grade
  8. perch — the fish
  9. face — part of the head
  10. chair — a professorship
  11. bound — tied together
  12. content — the amount
  13. mark — to pay attention
  14. perch — for a bird
  15. bound — obliged
  16. bulb — of a plant
  17. content — happy
  18. chair — a leader
  19. wax — for sculpting
  20. face — to point toward
  21. wax — to grow
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. bulb — for light
  24. bound — certain

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