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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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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: wake · charge · fine · staff · key · rest · mug · wax

  1. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  2. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  3. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  4. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  5. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  6. The tickets are free of ________________.
  7. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  8. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  9. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  10. Where did you ________________ them?
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  13. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  14. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  15. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  16. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  17. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  18. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  19. This piece is in a major ________________.
  20. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  21. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  22. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  23. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  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. rest — what's left
  2. mug — a face
  3. wax — in the ear
  4. wake — to stop sleeping
  5. staff — employees
  6. charge — a price
  7. key — the most important part
  8. rest — a break
  9. wax — for sculpting
  10. mug — to rob
  11. mug — a cup
  12. wake — before a funeral
  13. charge — electricity
  14. staff — a stick
  15. staff — employees
  16. wake — a trail
  17. rest — what's left
  18. fine — high quality
  19. key — in music
  20. fine — all right
  21. charge — in control
  22. key — for a lock
  23. wax — to grow
  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