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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.

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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
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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: mark · toast · hide · wax · sharp · key · row · bulb

  1. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  2. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  3. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  4. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  5. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  6. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  7. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  8. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  9. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  10. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  11. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  12. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  13. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  14. The light ________________ burned out.
  15. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  16. It's one o'clock ________________.
  17. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  18. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  19. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  20. This piece is in a major ________________.
  21. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  22. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  23. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  24. I've got to change the light ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. key — for a lock
  2. sharp — with an edge
  3. mark — a grade
  4. mark — to pay attention
  5. wax — in the ear
  6. row — a line
  7. row — to paddle
  8. mark — a trace
  9. wax — to grow
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. row — a quarrel
  12. toast — bread
  13. key — the most important part
  14. bulb — for light
  15. bulb — of a plant
  16. sharp — exactly
  17. wax — for sculpting
  18. toast — the most admired
  19. toast — a drink to someone
  20. key — in music
  21. hide — animal skin
  22. hide — to keep secret
  23. sharp — clever
  24. bulb — for light

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