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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: stock · sharp · key · wound · wax · toast · safe · racket

  1. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  2. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  3. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  4. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  5. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. This piece is in a major ________________.
  10. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  11. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  12. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  13. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. It's one o'clock ________________.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  18. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  19. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  20. The ________________ market has crashed.
  21. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  22. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  23. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  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. wound — past of 'wind'
  2. toast — a drink to someone
  3. sharp — clever
  4. racket — for tennis
  5. toast — the most admired
  6. key — the most important part
  7. wound — an injury
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. key — in music
  10. racket — for tennis
  11. wax — to grow
  12. racket — a loud noise
  13. wax — in the ear
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. sharp — exactly
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. wax — for sculpting
  18. stock — goods
  19. sharp — with an edge
  20. stock — shares
  21. toast — bread
  22. wound — an injury
  23. stock — a soup base
  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