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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 116 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. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  2. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  4. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  5. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  8. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  11. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  12. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  13. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  14. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  15. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  16. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  17. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  18. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  19. Did you ________________ the meat?
  20. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  23. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  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. pass — a permit
  2. key — in music
  3. present — the time now
  4. trunk — of an elephant
  5. season — in sport
  6. key — the most important part
  7. deal — to handle
  8. present — there
  9. current — happening now
  10. present — a gift
  11. wax — in the ear
  12. pass — to spend time
  13. season — of the year
  14. deal — an agreement
  15. wax — to grow
  16. deal — a big deal
  17. trunk — of a tree
  18. current — electric
  19. season — to add flavour
  20. current — of water
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. wax — for sculpting
  23. trunk — of a car
  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