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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 120 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. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  3. I'll be taking the ________________.
  4. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  5. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  6. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  7. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  10. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  13. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  14. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  15. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  16. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  17. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  20. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  21. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  22. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  23. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  24. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. dip — to sink
  3. tube — the underground
  4. tube — in a tire
  5. kick — a thrill
  6. mouse — for a computer
  7. wax — for sculpting
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. wax — to grow
  10. kick — in football
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. wax — in the ear
  13. tube — a container
  14. mark — a trace
  15. mark — to pay attention
  16. dip — to dunk
  17. key — the most important part
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. mark — a grade
  21. dip — a sauce
  22. key — for a lock
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. kick — with a leg

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