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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. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  2. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  3. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  4. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  5. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  6. What do you think of the new ________________?
  7. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  8. I'll be taking the ________________.
  9. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  10. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  11. When will it ________________ you to start?
  12. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  13. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  14. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  15. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  16. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  17. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  18. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  19. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  20. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  21. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  22. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  23. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  24. This piece is in a major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — to grow
  2. key — the most important part
  3. patient — a sick person
  4. suit — clothes
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. tube — in a tire
  8. tube — the underground
  9. key — for a lock
  10. cabinet — a cupboard
  11. suit — to fit
  12. suit — in cards
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. pound — a weight
  15. patient — a sick person
  16. pound — to hit hard
  17. mouse — for a computer
  18. wax — for sculpting
  19. pound — for dogs
  20. wax — in the ear
  21. tube — a container
  22. patient — calm and waiting
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. key — in music

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