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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. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  2. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  5. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  6. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  9. False peace will not ________________.
  10. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  11. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  12. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  13. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  14. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  15. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. When will it ________________ you to start?
  18. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  19. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  20. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  21. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  24. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. last — finally
  2. key — in music
  3. can — a tin
  4. wax — in the ear
  5. key — the most important part
  6. lash — an eyelash
  7. mark — a grade
  8. lash — a whip stroke
  9. last — to go on
  10. perch — for a bird
  11. suit — clothes
  12. last — final
  13. perch — the fish
  14. lash — to lash out
  15. mark — a trace
  16. can — a tin
  17. suit — to fit
  18. wax — to grow
  19. mark — to pay attention
  20. suit — in cards
  21. key — for a lock
  22. can — to be able to
  23. wax — for sculpting
  24. perch — for a bird

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