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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. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  2. The King held a masked ________________.
  3. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  4. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  5. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  6. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  7. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  8. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  9. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  10. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  11. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  12. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  13. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  14. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  15. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  16. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  17. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  18. This piece is in a major ________________.
  19. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  20. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  21. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  24. The tickets are free of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. content — videos and posts
  2. ball — a dance
  3. wax — in the ear
  4. charge — electricity
  5. cue — a hint
  6. toast — bread
  7. staff — employees
  8. staff — a stick
  9. wax — to grow
  10. wax — for sculpting
  11. content — the amount
  12. content — happy
  13. ball — a round shape
  14. cue — a signal
  15. key — for a lock
  16. toast — a drink to someone
  17. charge — in control
  18. key — in music
  19. ball — a great time
  20. staff — employees
  21. toast — the most admired
  22. key — the most important part
  23. cue — for pool
  24. charge — a price

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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