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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
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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: can · toast · pop · bear · game · wax · track · bulb

  1. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  7. We're almost out of ________________.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. That was a fun ________________.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  12. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  13. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  14. I've got to change the light ________________.
  15. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  16. You don't need to ________________ round.
  17. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  18. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  19. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  20. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  21. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  22. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  23. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  24. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — in the ear
  2. can — to be able to
  3. track — to keep track
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. bulb — for light
  6. toast — the most admired
  7. pop — soda
  8. can — a tin
  9. game — a match
  10. can — a tin
  11. wax — for sculpting
  12. bear — the animal
  13. toast — a drink to someone
  14. bulb — for light
  15. pop — music
  16. pop — to visit
  17. wax — to grow
  18. track — a path
  19. bear — the animal
  20. bear — to put up with
  21. game — wild animals
  22. game — a kind of play
  23. track — a song
  24. toast — bread

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