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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.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
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: track · pit · calf · key · wax · lash · mark · fan

  1. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  3. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  4. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  5. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  6. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  7. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  8. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  9. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  10. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  11. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  12. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  13. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  14. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  15. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  16. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  17. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  18. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  19. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  20. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  21. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  22. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  23. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  24. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. pit — a fruit stone
  3. track — a path
  4. lash — an eyelash
  5. key — for a lock
  6. lash — a whip stroke
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. track — a song
  9. lash — to lash out
  10. mark — to pay attention
  11. mark — a grade
  12. key — the most important part
  13. pit — in a race
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. wax — to grow
  16. wax — for sculpting
  17. pit — a hole
  18. fan — to cool the air
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. wax — in the ear
  21. mark — a trace
  22. track — to keep track
  23. calf — of the leg
  24. fan — a supporter

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