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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 120 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: wax · bulb · snap · last · cell · nail · craft · foot

  1. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  2. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  3. The light ________________ burned out.
  4. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  5. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  6. The ________________ went through the wall.
  7. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  8. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  9. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  10. False peace will not ________________.
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  13. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  14. He was locked up in a ________________.
  15. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  16. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  17. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  18. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  19. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  20. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  21. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  22. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  23. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  24. I've got to change the light ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cell — a phone
  2. cell — in biology
  3. bulb — for light
  4. craft — a skill
  5. foot — part of the body
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. snap — to click
  8. last — finally
  9. snap — to speak sharply
  10. last — to go on
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. wax — to grow
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. cell — in a prison
  15. snap — to snap out of it
  16. foot — a measure
  17. craft — boats
  18. foot — the bottom
  19. nail — on a finger
  20. wax — in the ear
  21. wax — for sculpting
  22. last — final
  23. craft — a handicraft
  24. bulb — for light

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