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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. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  2. You don't need to ________________ round.
  3. He works in a ________________ mill.
  4. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  5. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  6. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  7. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  8. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  9. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  10. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  11. We're almost out of ________________.
  12. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  13. He is an ace ________________.
  14. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  15. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  16. This piece is in a major ________________.
  17. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  18. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  19. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  20. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  21. She's very handy with a ________________.
  22. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  23. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  24. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — an eyelash
  2. pop — to visit
  3. saw — the tool
  4. track — a path
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. bore — to tire
  7. key — for a lock
  8. saw — past of 'see'
  9. key — the most important part
  10. wax — in the ear
  11. pop — soda
  12. track — a song
  13. pitcher — in baseball
  14. pop — music
  15. wax — to grow
  16. key — in music
  17. lash — to lash out
  18. track — to keep track
  19. lash — a whip stroke
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. saw — the tool
  22. bore — to drill
  23. bore — gave birth
  24. wax — for sculpting

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