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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. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  2. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  3. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  4. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  5. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  6. The King held a masked ________________.
  7. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  8. This piece is in a major ________________.
  9. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  10. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  11. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  12. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  13. Where did you ________________ them?
  14. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  15. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  16. The tickets are free of ________________.
  17. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  18. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  19. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  20. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  21. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  22. The ________________ took off on time.
  23. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  24. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a face
  2. mug — a cup
  3. ball — a round shape
  4. wake — to stop sleeping
  5. wax — to grow
  6. ball — a dance
  7. wake — a trail
  8. key — in music
  9. wake — before a funeral
  10. wax — in the ear
  11. charge — in control
  12. root — of a word
  13. mug — to rob
  14. root — the cause
  15. root — of a plant
  16. charge — a price
  17. plane — a tool
  18. charge — electricity
  19. ball — a great time
  20. key — the most important part
  21. wax — for sculpting
  22. plane — an aircraft
  23. key — for a lock
  24. plane — in geometry

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