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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: wax · season · trunk · charge · key · fall · fine · deal

  1. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  2. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  3. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  4. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  5. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  6. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  7. The tickets are free of ________________.
  8. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  9. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  10. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  11. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  12. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  13. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  14. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  15. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  16. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  17. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  18. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  19. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  20. This piece is in a major ________________.
  21. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  22. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  23. Did you ________________ the meat?
  24. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of a tree
  2. trunk — of an elephant
  3. deal — to handle
  4. key — the most important part
  5. charge — electricity
  6. fall — to drop
  7. charge — a price
  8. fall — the season
  9. fine — a penalty
  10. fall — to drop
  11. deal — an agreement
  12. key — for a lock
  13. trunk — of a car
  14. wax — in the ear
  15. wax — for sculpting
  16. wax — to grow
  17. deal — a big deal
  18. season — of the year
  19. season — in sport
  20. key — in music
  21. charge — in control
  22. fine — all right
  23. season — to add flavour
  24. fine — high quality

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