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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.

Make a worksheet

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: hide · cabinet · cap · coach · dip · toast · leaves · wax

  1. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  2. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  3. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  4. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  5. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  6. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  7. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  8. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  9. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  12. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  13. What do you think of the new ________________?
  14. Have you met the new head ________________?
  15. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  16. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  17. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  18. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  19. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  20. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  21. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  22. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  23. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  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. toast — the most admired
  3. dip — to dunk
  4. hide — animal skin
  5. wax — to grow
  6. cap — a hat
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. dip — a sauce
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. dip — to sink
  12. leaves — lets stay
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. toast — a drink to someone
  16. coach — pulled by horses
  17. leaves — of a tree
  18. cap — of ice
  19. cap — a lid
  20. cabinet — a cupboard
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. wax — for sculpting
  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