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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: file · dip · foot · wax · fan · date · chip · key

  1. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  2. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  3. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  4. Have you settled on a ________________?
  5. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  6. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  7. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  8. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  9. This piece is in a major ________________.
  10. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  11. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  12. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  13. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  14. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  15. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  16. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  17. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  18. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  19. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  20. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  21. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  22. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  23. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  24. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.

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

Answer key

  1. key — for a lock
  2. chip — in a computer
  3. dip — to sink
  4. date — on the calendar
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. foot — a measure
  7. file — a document
  8. wax — for sculpting
  9. key — in music
  10. dip — a sauce
  11. chip — for betting
  12. fan — to cool the air
  13. foot — part of the body
  14. foot — the bottom
  15. date — the fruit
  16. key — the most important part
  17. dip — to dunk
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. file — a tool
  20. date — on the calendar
  21. wax — in the ear
  22. file — a line of people
  23. wax — to grow
  24. chip — to eat

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