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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 120 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. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  2. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  3. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  4. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  5. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  6. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  7. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  8. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  9. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  10. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  11. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  12. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  13. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  14. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  15. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  16. The ________________ went through the wall.
  17. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  18. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  19. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  20. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  21. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  22. This piece is in a major ________________.
  23. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  24. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a trace
  2. key — the most important part
  3. nail — on a finger
  4. hide — to keep secret
  5. bass — the instrument
  6. fine — all right
  7. bass — low music
  8. wax — to grow
  9. mark — a grade
  10. key — for a lock
  11. pit — a hole
  12. pit — in a race
  13. hide — animal skin
  14. wax — in the ear
  15. fine — high quality
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. bass — the fish
  18. pit — a fruit stone
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. mark — to pay attention
  21. wax — for sculpting
  22. key — in music
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. fine — a penalty

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