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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. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  3. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  6. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  7. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  8. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  9. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  10. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  13. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  14. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  15. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  16. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  19. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  20. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  21. That was a fun ________________.
  22. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  23. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  24. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. deal — an agreement
  3. game — wild animals
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. deal — a big deal
  6. wax — to grow
  7. key — the most important part
  8. rock — music
  9. deal — to handle
  10. wax — in the ear
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. dip — to dunk
  13. game — a kind of play
  14. dip — a sauce
  15. dip — to sink
  16. cue — a signal
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. rock — to move gently
  19. key — for a lock
  20. cue — for pool
  21. game — a match
  22. rock — a stone
  23. cue — a hint
  24. wax — for sculpting

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