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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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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: wax · can · cabinet · suit · track · row · ball · key

  1. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  2. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  3. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  4. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  5. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  6. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  7. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  10. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  11. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  12. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. The King held a masked ________________.
  15. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  16. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. When will it ________________ you to start?
  19. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  20. This piece is in a major ________________.
  21. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  22. What do you think of the new ________________?
  23. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  24. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.

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

Answer key

  1. row — a quarrel
  2. track — to keep track
  3. ball — a round shape
  4. wax — in the ear
  5. wax — to grow
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. row — a line
  8. can — to be able to
  9. suit — in cards
  10. ball — a great time
  11. track — a song
  12. track — a path
  13. can — a tin
  14. ball — a dance
  15. key — for a lock
  16. key — the most important part
  17. can — a tin
  18. suit — to fit
  19. row — to paddle
  20. key — in music
  21. suit — clothes
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. cabinet — a cupboard
  24. wax — for sculpting

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