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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 took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. Have you settled on a ________________?
  3. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  4. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  5. This piece is in a major ________________.
  6. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  7. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  8. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  9. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  10. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  11. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  12. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  13. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  14. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  15. When will it ________________ you to start?
  16. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  17. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  18. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  19. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  20. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  21. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  22. What do you think of the new ________________?
  23. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  24. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. date — on the calendar
  3. wax — in the ear
  4. suit — clothes
  5. key — in music
  6. wax — for sculpting
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. march — the month
  9. date — the fruit
  10. bank — for money
  11. wax — to grow
  12. row — to paddle
  13. march — music
  14. bank — for money
  15. suit — to fit
  16. key — for a lock
  17. bank — of a river
  18. suit — in cards
  19. row — a quarrel
  20. row — a line
  21. date — on the calendar
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. key — the most important part
  24. march — the month

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