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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.

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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: foot · mouse · ball · spring · lean · wax · mate · suit

  1. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  2. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  3. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  4. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  5. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  6. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  7. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  8. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  9. Have you found your soul ________________?
  10. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  11. The King held a masked ________________.
  12. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  13. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  14. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  15. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  16. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  17. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  18. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  19. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  20. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  21. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  22. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  23. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  24. When will it ________________ you to start?

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

Answer key

  1. spring — of water
  2. ball — a round shape
  3. spring — a coil
  4. suit — in cards
  5. foot — the bottom
  6. spring — the season
  7. ball — a great time
  8. lean — to bend
  9. mate — a partner
  10. mate — a friend
  11. ball — a dance
  12. wax — in the ear
  13. suit — clothes
  14. lean — thin
  15. foot — part of the body
  16. foot — a measure
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. lean — to rest against
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. mouse — for a computer
  21. mate — to breed
  22. wax — to grow
  23. wax — for sculpting
  24. suit — to fit

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