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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. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  2. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  3. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  4. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  5. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  6. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  7. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  8. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  9. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  10. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  11. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  12. When will it ________________ you to start?
  13. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  14. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  15. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  16. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  17. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  18. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  19. This piece is in a major ________________.
  20. Where did you ________________ them?
  21. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  22. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  23. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. racket — a loud noise
  2. key — the most important part
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. object — an aim
  5. wax — in the ear
  6. wax — to grow
  7. object — to protest
  8. bass — the fish
  9. branch — of a tree
  10. branch — of a bank
  11. mug — a face
  12. suit — to fit
  13. suit — in cards
  14. object — a thing
  15. wax — for sculpting
  16. bass — low music
  17. racket — for tennis
  18. branch — a division
  19. key — in music
  20. mug — to rob
  21. key — for a lock
  22. mug — a cup
  23. bass — the instrument
  24. suit — clothes

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