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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'll be taking the ________________.
  2. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  4. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  5. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  8. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  9. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  10. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  11. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  12. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  13. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  14. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  15. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  16. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  17. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  22. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  23. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  24. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — the underground
  2. key — in music
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. pitch — a sales talk
  5. lash — an eyelash
  6. can — a tin
  7. rest — a break
  8. key — the most important part
  9. lash — a whip stroke
  10. wax — to grow
  11. rest — what's left
  12. wax — for sculpting
  13. tube — a container
  14. fan — to cool the air
  15. lash — to lash out
  16. pitch — a sports field
  17. key — for a lock
  18. can — a tin
  19. rest — what's left
  20. can — to be able to
  21. tube — in a tire
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. wax — in the ear
  24. pitch — completely

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