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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.

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: sharp · stick · spell · wax · racket · track · cell · coach

  1. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  2. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  3. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  4. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  5. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  6. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  7. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  8. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  9. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  10. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  11. It's one o'clock ________________.
  12. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  13. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  14. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  15. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  16. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  17. He was locked up in a ________________.
  18. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  19. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  20. Have you met the new head ________________?
  21. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  22. How do you ________________ your surname?
  23. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  24. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. cell — a phone
  2. wax — to grow
  3. cell — in biology
  4. sharp — with an edge
  5. stick — a piece of wood
  6. stick — to attach or keep to
  7. sharp — clever
  8. racket — a loud noise
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. coach — pulled by horses
  11. sharp — exactly
  12. wax — for sculpting
  13. track — a path
  14. spell — magic
  15. spell — a short time
  16. racket — for tennis
  17. cell — in a prison
  18. racket — for tennis
  19. track — a song
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. stick — a piece of wood
  22. spell — letters
  23. track — to keep track
  24. wax — in the ear

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