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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 116 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: rock · bore · wax · wave · file · spell · land · key

  1. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  2. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  3. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  4. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  5. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  6. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  7. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  8. This piece is in a major ________________.
  9. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  10. When are we going to ________________?
  11. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  12. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  13. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  14. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  15. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  16. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  17. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  18. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  19. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  20. How do you ________________ your surname?
  21. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  22. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  23. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  24. The moon will ________________ and wane.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a line of people
  2. file — a document
  3. file — a tool
  4. wave — with your hand
  5. spell — magic
  6. wave — of the sea
  7. land — ground
  8. key — in music
  9. bore — to drill
  10. land — to come down
  11. spell — a short time
  12. rock — music
  13. rock — to move gently
  14. bore — to tire
  15. wax — for sculpting
  16. key — the most important part
  17. land — a country
  18. rock — a stone
  19. key — for a lock
  20. spell — letters
  21. wax — in the ear
  22. bore — gave birth
  23. wave — a sudden rise
  24. wax — to grow

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