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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: object · bulb · lie · band · cabinet · season · foot · wax

  1. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  2. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  3. The light ________________ burned out.
  4. Did you ________________ the meat?
  5. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  6. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  7. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  8. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  9. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  10. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  11. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  12. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  13. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  14. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  15. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  16. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  17. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  18. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  19. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  20. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  21. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  22. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  23. What do you think of the new ________________?
  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. object — an aim
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. bulb — for light
  4. season — to add flavour
  5. season — of the year
  6. wax — to grow
  7. band — a ring
  8. season — in sport
  9. band — a music group
  10. band — a rubber band
  11. cabinet — a cupboard
  12. foot — part of the body
  13. object — a thing
  14. lie — to recline
  15. bulb — of a plant
  16. wax — in the ear
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. object — to protest
  19. foot — a measure
  20. wax — for sculpting
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. foot — the bottom
  23. cabinet — ministers
  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