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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 124 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. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  3. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  4. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  5. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  6. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  7. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  8. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  9. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  10. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  11. I can't ________________ this cold.
  12. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  13. That must've been a ________________.
  14. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  15. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  16. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  17. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  20. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  21. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  22. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  23. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  24. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. stand — for spectators
  3. key — the most important part
  4. pit — a hole
  5. pit — a fruit stone
  6. wax — for sculpting
  7. shower — a meteor shower
  8. rush — to hurry
  9. trunk — of a tree
  10. key — for a lock
  11. stand — to bear
  12. shower — to wash
  13. rush — a thrill
  14. jam — to spread on bread
  15. pit — in a race
  16. trunk — of an elephant
  17. wax — to grow
  18. rush — hurry
  19. trunk — of a car
  20. jam — a tight spot
  21. jam — in traffic
  22. stand — on your feet
  23. shower — rain
  24. wax — in the ear

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