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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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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: saw · bound · suit · snap · rest · mug · wax · season

  1. He works in a ________________ mill.
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  4. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  5. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  6. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  7. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  8. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  9. Did you ________________ the meat?
  10. When will it ________________ you to start?
  11. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  12. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  13. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  14. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  15. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  16. She's very handy with a ________________.
  17. That was ________________ to happen.
  18. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  19. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  20. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  21. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  22. Where did you ________________ them?
  23. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  24. I would like to have a ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. bound — tied together
  3. snap — to snap out of it
  4. mug — a face
  5. mug — a cup
  6. season — of the year
  7. snap — to click
  8. bound — obliged
  9. season — to add flavour
  10. suit — to fit
  11. suit — in cards
  12. suit — clothes
  13. wax — for sculpting
  14. saw — past of 'see'
  15. wax — in the ear
  16. saw — the tool
  17. bound — certain
  18. season — in sport
  19. wax — to grow
  20. rest — what's left
  21. snap — to speak sharply
  22. mug — to rob
  23. rest — what's left
  24. rest — a break

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