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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 in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  2. When will it ________________ you to start?
  3. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  4. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  5. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  6. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  7. We're almost out of ________________.
  8. You don't need to ________________ round.
  9. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  10. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  11. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  12. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  13. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  14. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  15. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  16. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  17. This piece is in a major ________________.
  18. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  19. He works in a ________________ mill.
  20. She's very handy with a ________________.
  21. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  22. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  23. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  24. I play ________________ in a jazz band.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. suit — to fit
  3. wave — of the sea
  4. bass — low music
  5. key — for a lock
  6. wax — in the ear
  7. pop — soda
  8. pop — to visit
  9. suit — clothes
  10. wave — a sudden rise
  11. mouse — for a computer
  12. pop — music
  13. saw — past of 'see'
  14. key — the most important part
  15. wax — for sculpting
  16. wax — to grow
  17. key — in music
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. saw — the tool
  20. saw — the tool
  21. bass — the fish
  22. suit — in cards
  23. wave — with your hand
  24. bass — the instrument

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