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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: date · squash · leaves · fine · toast · key · wax · firm

  1. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  2. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  5. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  6. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  7. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  8. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  9. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  10. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  11. Have you settled on a ________________?
  12. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  13. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  14. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  15. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  16. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  17. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  18. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  19. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  20. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  21. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  22. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  23. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  24. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?

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

Answer key

  1. key — the most important part
  2. toast — a drink to someone
  3. key — in music
  4. squash — the vegetable
  5. squash — the sport
  6. leaves — lets stay
  7. toast — bread
  8. date — the fruit
  9. date — on the calendar
  10. wax — for sculpting
  11. date — on the calendar
  12. leaves — of a tree
  13. fine — high quality
  14. leaves — to go away
  15. wax — in the ear
  16. toast — the most admired
  17. firm — steady
  18. squash — to crush
  19. firm — a company
  20. fine — a penalty
  21. wax — to grow
  22. firm — decided
  23. fine — all right
  24. key — for a lock

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