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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.

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: pop · game · rash · mate · mouse · dip · key · wax

  1. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  2. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  3. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  4. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  5. We're almost out of ________________.
  6. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  7. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  8. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  9. Have you found your soul ________________?
  10. Don't do anything ________________.
  11. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  12. This piece is in a major ________________.
  13. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  14. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  15. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  16. That was a fun ________________.
  17. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. You don't need to ________________ round.
  20. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  21. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  22. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  23. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  24. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — for sculpting
  2. dip — to sink
  3. mouse — for a computer
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. pop — soda
  6. rash — a series
  7. pop — music
  8. key — the most important part
  9. mate — a partner
  10. rash — hasty
  11. wax — to grow
  12. key — in music
  13. game — a kind of play
  14. dip — a sauce
  15. wax — in the ear
  16. game — a match
  17. rash — on the skin
  18. key — for a lock
  19. pop — to visit
  20. mate — to breed
  21. dip — to dunk
  22. mate — a friend
  23. game — wild animals
  24. mouse — the animal

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