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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. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  2. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  3. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  4. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  5. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  6. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  7. The ________________ went through the wall.
  8. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  9. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  10. This piece is in a major ________________.
  11. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  12. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  13. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  14. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  15. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  16. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  17. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  20. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  21. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  22. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  23. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  24. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fan — a supporter
  2. deal — a big deal
  3. fan — to cool the air
  4. chair — a leader
  5. chair — a professorship
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. net — after costs
  9. nail — on a finger
  10. key — in music
  11. wax — in the ear
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. wax — to grow
  14. net — for catching
  15. key — the most important part
  16. lie — to recline
  17. deal — an agreement
  18. key — for a lock
  19. deal — to handle
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. net — in sport
  23. wax — for sculpting
  24. chair — to sit on

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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