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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. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  2. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  3. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  4. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  5. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  6. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  7. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  8. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  11. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  12. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  13. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  14. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  15. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  16. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  17. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  18. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  19. I'll be taking the ________________.
  20. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  21. This piece is in a major ________________.
  22. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  23. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  24. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.

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

Answer key

  1. key — the most important part
  2. root — of a plant
  3. wake — a trail
  4. wax — in the ear
  5. bore — to tire
  6. rock — to move gently
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. tube — in a tire
  9. rock — a stone
  10. fan — to cool the air
  11. bore — gave birth
  12. rock — music
  13. key — for a lock
  14. bore — to drill
  15. wax — to grow
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. wax — for sculpting
  18. root — of a word
  19. tube — the underground
  20. wake — before a funeral
  21. key — in music
  22. root — the cause
  23. tube — a container
  24. wake — to stop sleeping

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