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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. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  3. That must've been a ________________.
  4. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  5. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  6. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  7. The ball is in your ________________.
  8. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  9. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  10. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  11. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  12. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  13. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  14. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  15. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  16. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  17. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  18. What do you think of the new ________________?
  19. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  20. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  21. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  22. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  23. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  24. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. bank — of a river
  3. rush — a thrill
  4. dip — to dunk
  5. rush — hurry
  6. bank — for money
  7. court — for sport
  8. dip — to sink
  9. key — the most important part
  10. present — the time now
  11. wax — for sculpting
  12. cabinet — a cupboard
  13. rush — to hurry
  14. present — there
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. wax — in the ear
  17. bank — for money
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. present — a gift
  20. dip — a sauce
  21. court — of law
  22. court — of a king
  23. wax — to grow
  24. key — for a lock

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