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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: stand · toast · wax · pit · bore · rush · rash · key

  1. That must've been a ________________.
  2. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  3. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  4. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  5. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  6. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  7. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  8. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. I can't ________________ this cold.
  11. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  12. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  13. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  14. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  15. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  16. Don't do anything ________________.
  17. This piece is in a major ________________.
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  22. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  23. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  24. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — a thrill
  2. rash — on the skin
  3. toast — a drink to someone
  4. wax — in the ear
  5. pit — in a race
  6. wax — to grow
  7. pit — a fruit stone
  8. rash — a series
  9. rush — hurry
  10. stand — to bear
  11. pit — a hole
  12. stand — on your feet
  13. key — the most important part
  14. bore — to tire
  15. toast — the most admired
  16. rash — hasty
  17. key — in music
  18. key — for a lock
  19. bore — to drill
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. toast — bread
  22. stand — for spectators
  23. wax — for sculpting
  24. bore — gave birth

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