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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 116 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 · lie · wax · season · dip · mate · suit · scale

  1. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  2. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  3. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  4. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  5. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  6. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  7. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  8. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  9. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  10. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  11. When will it ________________ you to start?
  12. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  13. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  14. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  15. Did you ________________ the meat?
  16. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  17. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  18. Have you found your soul ________________?
  19. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  20. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  21. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  22. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  23. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  24. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.

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

Answer key

  1. object — to protest
  2. wax — in the ear
  3. season — of the year
  4. dip — to sink
  5. object — a thing
  6. mate — a friend
  7. suit — clothes
  8. suit — in cards
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. dip — a sauce
  11. suit — to fit
  12. scale — in music
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. season — in sport
  15. season — to add flavour
  16. scale — size or range
  17. dip — to dunk
  18. mate — a partner
  19. scale — for weighing
  20. wax — to grow
  21. lie — to recline
  22. object — an aim
  23. wax — for sculpting
  24. mate — to breed

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