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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: mate · dip · wax · toast · cabinet · lean · root · suit

  1. Have you found your soul ________________?
  2. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  3. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  4. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  5. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  6. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  7. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  8. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  9. What do you think of the new ________________?
  10. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  11. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  12. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  13. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  14. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  15. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  16. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  17. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  18. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  19. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  20. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  21. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  22. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  23. When will it ________________ you to start?
  24. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. mate — a partner
  2. toast — bread
  3. suit — in cards
  4. dip — a sauce
  5. root — of a word
  6. mate — a friend
  7. wax — for sculpting
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. wax — to grow
  11. root — the cause
  12. lean — to bend
  13. suit — clothes
  14. dip — to sink
  15. mate — to breed
  16. dip — to dunk
  17. root — of a plant
  18. toast — the most admired
  19. cabinet — a cupboard
  20. lean — to rest against
  21. toast — a drink to someone
  22. lean — thin
  23. suit — to fit
  24. wax — in the ear

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