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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 120 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
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: key · scale · craft · net · wax · mark · cell · staff

  1. He was locked up in a ________________.
  2. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  3. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  4. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  5. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  6. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  7. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  8. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  9. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  10. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  11. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  12. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  13. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  14. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  15. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  16. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  17. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  18. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  19. This piece is in a major ________________.
  20. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  21. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  22. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  23. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  24. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?

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

Answer key

  1. cell — in a prison
  2. scale — for weighing
  3. net — in sport
  4. scale — in music
  5. key — the most important part
  6. mark — to pay attention
  7. mark — a trace
  8. staff — a stick
  9. scale — size or range
  10. craft — a handicraft
  11. staff — employees
  12. cell — in biology
  13. wax — for sculpting
  14. net — after costs
  15. cell — a phone
  16. wax — in the ear
  17. net — for catching
  18. staff — employees
  19. key — in music
  20. mark — a grade
  21. wax — to grow
  22. craft — a skill
  23. craft — boats
  24. key — for a lock

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