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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. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  4. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  5. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  6. I can't ________________ this cold.
  7. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  8. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  9. That must've been a ________________.
  10. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  11. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  12. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  13. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  14. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  15. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  16. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  17. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  18. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  19. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  20. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  21. This piece is in a major ________________.
  22. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  23. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  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. stand — for spectators
  2. mark — a trace
  3. key — the most important part
  4. wax — to grow
  5. rush — to hurry
  6. stand — to bear
  7. key — for a lock
  8. racket — a loud noise
  9. rush — a thrill
  10. rush — hurry
  11. racket — for tennis
  12. deal — to handle
  13. racket — for tennis
  14. bass — low music
  15. mark — to pay attention
  16. deal — a big deal
  17. mark — a grade
  18. wax — in the ear
  19. bass — the instrument
  20. bass — the fish
  21. key — in music
  22. deal — an agreement
  23. stand — on your feet
  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