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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. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  2. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  3. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  4. The ________________ went through the wall.
  5. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  6. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  7. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  8. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  9. What do you think of the new ________________?
  10. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  11. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  12. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  13. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  14. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  15. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  16. When was this ________________ built?
  17. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  18. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  19. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  20. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  21. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  22. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. The train ________________ at six o'clock.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. wax — in the ear
  3. temple — side of the head
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. cue — for pool
  6. wax — to grow
  7. track — a path
  8. cabinet — a cupboard
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. pass — a permit
  11. track — a song
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. cue — a hint
  14. wax — for sculpting
  15. pass — to succeed
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. nail — on a finger
  18. cue — a signal
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. leaves — of a tree
  21. pass — to spend time
  22. track — to keep track
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. leaves — to go away

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