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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. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  2. We're almost out of ________________.
  3. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  4. That must've been a ________________.
  5. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  6. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  7. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  8. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  9. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  10. You don't need to ________________ round.
  11. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  12. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  13. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  14. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  15. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  16. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  17. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  18. This piece is in a major ________________.
  19. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  20. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  21. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  22. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  23. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  24. We have nothing to ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — a safe
  2. pop — soda
  3. wax — to grow
  4. rush — a thrill
  5. wax — for sculpting
  6. wake — to stop sleeping
  7. rush — to hurry
  8. wake — a trail
  9. key — the most important part
  10. pop — to visit
  11. vault — an arched ceiling
  12. wake — before a funeral
  13. key — for a lock
  14. toast — bread
  15. hide — animal skin
  16. pop — music
  17. toast — a drink to someone
  18. key — in music
  19. toast — the most admired
  20. wax — in the ear
  21. vault — in gymnastics
  22. hide — to keep secret
  23. rush — hurry
  24. hide — to keep secret

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