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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. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  4. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  5. Where did you ________________ them?
  6. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  7. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  8. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  9. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  10. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  11. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  12. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  13. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  14. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  15. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  16. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  17. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  18. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  19. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  20. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  21. The King held a masked ________________.
  22. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  23. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  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 — in music
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. ball — a round shape
  4. mug — a cup
  5. mug — to rob
  6. key — for a lock
  7. wake — a trail
  8. leaves — of a tree
  9. mug — a face
  10. bore — gave birth
  11. key — the most important part
  12. wax — to grow
  13. track — to keep track
  14. ball — a great time
  15. track — a path
  16. bore — to tire
  17. track — a song
  18. bore — to drill
  19. wax — in the ear
  20. wake — before a funeral
  21. ball — a dance
  22. leaves — to go away
  23. wax — for sculpting
  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