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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. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  3. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  4. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  5. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  6. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  7. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  8. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  9. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  10. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  11. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  12. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  13. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  14. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  15. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  16. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  17. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  18. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  19. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  20. There's no middle ________________.
  21. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  22. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  23. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  24. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. ground — the earth
  3. wax — for sculpting
  4. kick — in football
  5. board — a flat piece
  6. wax — to grow
  7. key — for a lock
  8. chip — in a computer
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. trunk — of a tree
  11. kick — a thrill
  12. trunk — of a car
  13. perch — for a bird
  14. key — the most important part
  15. ground — crushed
  16. trunk — of an elephant
  17. board — to get on
  18. wax — in the ear
  19. kick — with a leg
  20. ground — a position
  21. chip — for betting
  22. perch — the fish
  23. board — a committee
  24. chip — to eat

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