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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: mine · toast · wax · ball · dip · stick · leaves · present

  1. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  2. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  3. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  4. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  5. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  6. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  7. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  8. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  9. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  10. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  11. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  12. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  13. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  14. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  15. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  16. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  17. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  18. The King held a masked ________________.
  19. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  20. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  21. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  22. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  23. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  24. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — lets stay
  2. mine — for digging
  3. mine — an explosive
  4. leaves — of a tree
  5. leaves — to go away
  6. stick — a piece of wood
  7. ball — a great time
  8. dip — to sink
  9. present — the time now
  10. mine — belonging to me
  11. wax — in the ear
  12. dip — a sauce
  13. ball — a round shape
  14. toast — the most admired
  15. wax — to grow
  16. toast — bread
  17. present — a gift
  18. ball — a dance
  19. dip — to dunk
  20. stick — a piece of wood
  21. toast — a drink to someone
  22. wax — for sculpting
  23. stick — to attach or keep to
  24. present — there

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