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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 120 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 have a corn on my right ________________.
  2. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  3. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  4. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  5. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  6. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  7. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  8. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  9. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  10. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  11. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  12. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  13. This piece is in a major ________________.
  14. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  15. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  16. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  17. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  18. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  19. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  20. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  21. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  22. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  23. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  24. Don't do anything ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — part of the body
  2. rash — a series
  3. key — for a lock
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. board — a flat piece
  6. board — to get on
  7. deal — a big deal
  8. key — the most important part
  9. deal — to handle
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. rash — on the skin
  12. fan — to cool the air
  13. key — in music
  14. staff — employees
  15. foot — the bottom
  16. staff — employees
  17. staff — a stick
  18. foot — a measure
  19. board — a committee
  20. wax — in the ear
  21. wax — to grow
  22. wax — for sculpting
  23. deal — an agreement
  24. rash — hasty

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