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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: wax · key · season · mouse · ground · cue · bear · mate

  1. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  2. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  3. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  4. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  5. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  6. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  7. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  8. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  9. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  10. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  11. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  12. Did you ________________ the meat?
  13. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  14. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  15. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  16. This piece is in a major ________________.
  17. There's no middle ________________.
  18. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  19. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  20. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  21. Have you found your soul ________________?
  22. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  23. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  24. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.

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

Answer key

  1. key — for a lock
  2. cue — a hint
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. mate — a friend
  5. wax — for sculpting
  6. mouse — for a computer
  7. mate — to breed
  8. ground — the earth
  9. season — in sport
  10. cue — a signal
  11. bear — the animal
  12. season — to add flavour
  13. bear — the animal
  14. ground — crushed
  15. wax — in the ear
  16. key — in music
  17. ground — a position
  18. wax — to grow
  19. key — the most important part
  20. season — of the year
  21. mate — a partner
  22. cue — for pool
  23. bear — to put up with
  24. mouse — the animal

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