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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: wax · cabinet · drill · toast · foot · date · jam · bear

  1. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  2. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  3. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  4. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  5. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  6. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  7. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  8. What do you think of the new ________________?
  9. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  10. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  11. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  12. Have you settled on a ________________?
  13. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  14. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  15. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  16. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  17. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  18. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  19. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  20. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  21. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  22. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  23. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  24. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!

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

Answer key

  1. jam — a tight spot
  2. cabinet — a cupboard
  3. drill — the tool
  4. date — on the calendar
  5. wax — to grow
  6. toast — bread
  7. wax — in the ear
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. wax — for sculpting
  10. jam — to spread on bread
  11. bear — the animal
  12. date — on the calendar
  13. date — the fruit
  14. jam — in traffic
  15. foot — the bottom
  16. drill — army training
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. bear — the animal
  19. foot — part of the body
  20. toast — the most admired
  21. drill — a practice
  22. foot — a measure
  23. toast — a drink to someone
  24. bear — to put up with

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