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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 116 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. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  2. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  3. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  6. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  7. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  8. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  9. False peace will not ________________.
  10. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  11. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  12. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  13. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  14. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  15. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  16. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  17. What do you think of the new ________________?
  18. When will it ________________ you to start?
  19. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  20. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  21. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  22. Where did you ________________ them?
  23. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  24. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — the instrument
  2. bass — the fish
  3. wax — for sculpting
  4. key — in music
  5. wax — in the ear
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. key — for a lock
  8. cabinet — a cupboard
  9. last — to go on
  10. bass — low music
  11. last — final
  12. suit — in cards
  13. mug — a cup
  14. mug — a face
  15. last — finally
  16. suit — clothes
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. suit — to fit
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. racket — for tennis
  21. wax — to grow
  22. mug — to rob
  23. key — the most important part
  24. racket — a loud noise

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