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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 116 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 · key · root · deal · club · can · object · lash

  1. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  2. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  3. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  4. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  5. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  8. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  9. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  10. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  13. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  18. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  19. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  20. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  21. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  22. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  23. This piece is in a major ________________.
  24. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. root — the cause
  2. club — a group
  3. object — to protest
  4. key — for a lock
  5. wax — in the ear
  6. key — the most important part
  7. object — an aim
  8. wax — for sculpting
  9. object — a thing
  10. club — for dancing
  11. can — a tin
  12. lash — to lash out
  13. deal — to handle
  14. can — to be able to
  15. deal — an agreement
  16. can — a tin
  17. deal — a big deal
  18. root — of a word
  19. root — of a plant
  20. club — for golf
  21. lash — an eyelash
  22. wax — to grow
  23. key — in music
  24. lash — a whip stroke

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