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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. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  2. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  3. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  4. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  5. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  6. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  7. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  8. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  9. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  10. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  11. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  12. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  13. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  14. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  15. My father caught me by the ________________.
  16. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  17. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  18. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  19. This piece is in a major ________________.
  20. Don't do anything ________________.
  21. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  22. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  23. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  24. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — a part of something
  2. track — to keep track
  3. track — a path
  4. lean — thin
  5. wax — for sculpting
  6. toast — bread
  7. arm — part of the body
  8. rash — a series
  9. lean — to bend
  10. track — a song
  11. key — the most important part
  12. lean — to rest against
  13. rash — on the skin
  14. key — for a lock
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. wax — to grow
  17. wax — in the ear
  18. craft — boats
  19. key — in music
  20. rash — hasty
  21. toast — a drink to someone
  22. craft — a skill
  23. toast — the most admired
  24. craft — a handicraft

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