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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. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  2. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  3. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  4. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  5. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  6. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  10. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  11. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  12. This piece is in a major ________________.
  13. My father caught me by the ________________.
  14. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  15. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  16. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  17. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  20. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  21. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  22. What do you think of the new ________________?
  23. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  24. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — a part of something
  2. object — an aim
  3. wax — for sculpting
  4. pound — to hit hard
  5. wax — to grow
  6. cabinet — a cupboard
  7. can — to be able to
  8. can — a tin
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. wax — in the ear
  11. object — a thing
  12. key — in music
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. pound — for dogs
  15. key — the most important part
  16. deal — a big deal
  17. deal — to handle
  18. can — a tin
  19. key — for a lock
  20. object — to protest
  21. pound — a weight
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. deal — an agreement
  24. arm — part of the body

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