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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 116 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. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. That was ________________ to happen.
  4. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  5. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  6. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  7. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  8. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  9. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  10. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  11. The tickets are free of ________________.
  12. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  13. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  14. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  15. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  16. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  17. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  18. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  19. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  20. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  21. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  22. This piece is in a major ________________.
  23. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  24. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — in the ear
  2. bound — tied together
  3. bound — certain
  4. key — the most important part
  5. branch — a division
  6. net — for catching
  7. charge — in control
  8. bore — gave birth
  9. key — for a lock
  10. mark — a trace
  11. charge — a price
  12. net — in sport
  13. bore — to drill
  14. net — after costs
  15. bound — obliged
  16. branch — of a bank
  17. bore — to tire
  18. mark — a grade
  19. wax — to grow
  20. wax — for sculpting
  21. mark — to pay attention
  22. key — in music
  23. charge — electricity
  24. branch — of a tree

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