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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
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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: mug · rock · key · lean · wake · sharp · wax · plane

  1. The ________________ took off on time.
  2. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  3. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  4. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  5. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  6. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. It's one o'clock ________________.
  9. Where did you ________________ them?
  10. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  11. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  12. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  13. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  14. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  15. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  16. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  17. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  18. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  19. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  20. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  21. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  22. This piece is in a major ________________.
  23. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  24. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — an aircraft
  2. wake — before a funeral
  3. wake — a trail
  4. wax — to grow
  5. key — for a lock
  6. wax — for sculpting
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. sharp — exactly
  9. mug — to rob
  10. rock — music
  11. lean — thin
  12. mug — a face
  13. rock — a stone
  14. lean — to rest against
  15. wax — in the ear
  16. plane — in geometry
  17. key — the most important part
  18. lean — to bend
  19. plane — a tool
  20. mug — a cup
  21. sharp — clever
  22. key — in music
  23. sharp — with an edge
  24. wake — to stop sleeping

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