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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. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  2. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  3. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  4. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  5. We're almost out of ________________.
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. He is an ace ________________.
  8. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  9. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  10. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. When was this ________________ built?
  13. I've got to change the light ________________.
  14. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  15. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  16. This piece is in a major ________________.
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  20. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  21. You don't need to ________________ round.
  22. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — music
  2. rest — what's left
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. key — the most important part
  5. pop — soda
  6. bulb — for light
  7. pitcher — in baseball
  8. key — for a lock
  9. rest — a break
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. bulb — for light
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. wax — in the ear
  16. key — in music
  17. can — a tin
  18. can — a tin
  19. temple — side of the head
  20. wax — for sculpting
  21. pop — to visit
  22. wax — to grow
  23. can — to be able to
  24. rest — what's left

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