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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. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  5. The ________________ took off on time.
  6. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  7. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  8. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  9. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  10. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  11. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  12. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  13. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  14. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  15. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  16. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  17. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  18. That was ________________ to happen.
  19. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  20. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  21. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  22. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  23. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  24. He is as ________________ as a wolf.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — in the ear
  2. rock — a stone
  3. key — in music
  4. bound — obliged
  5. plane — an aircraft
  6. plane — in geometry
  7. trunk — of an elephant
  8. key — the most important part
  9. calf — of the leg
  10. key — for a lock
  11. wax — for sculpting
  12. lean — to bend
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. trunk — of a tree
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. rock — to move gently
  17. bound — tied together
  18. bound — certain
  19. plane — a tool
  20. wax — to grow
  21. trunk — of a car
  22. rock — music
  23. lean — to rest against
  24. lean — thin

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