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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.

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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: charge · can · deal · cap · trunk · kid · wax · key

  1. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  2. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  4. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  5. The tickets are free of ________________.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. This piece is in a major ________________.
  9. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  10. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  11. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  12. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  13. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  14. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  15. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  16. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  19. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  24. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — to handle
  2. charge — in control
  3. cap — a lid
  4. charge — electricity
  5. charge — a price
  6. can — a tin
  7. can — to be able to
  8. key — in music
  9. kid — to tease
  10. trunk — of a tree
  11. deal — a big deal
  12. deal — an agreement
  13. kid — child
  14. trunk — of a car
  15. wax — to grow
  16. wax — in the ear
  17. can — a tin
  18. cap — of ice
  19. trunk — of an elephant
  20. key — for a lock
  21. wax — for sculpting
  22. key — the most important part
  23. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  24. cap — a hat

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