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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: wax · mate · staff · current · deal · key · bank · row

  1. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  2. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  3. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  4. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  5. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  6. This piece is in a major ________________.
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  9. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  10. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  11. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  12. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  13. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  14. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  15. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  16. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  17. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  18. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  19. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  22. Have you found your soul ________________?
  23. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  24. The old man leaned on his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mate — to breed
  2. staff — employees
  3. bank — of a river
  4. mate — a friend
  5. row — a quarrel
  6. key — in music
  7. current — of water
  8. deal — an agreement
  9. key — the most important part
  10. wax — for sculpting
  11. row — a line
  12. row — to paddle
  13. wax — to grow
  14. bank — for money
  15. current — happening now
  16. deal — to handle
  17. staff — employees
  18. deal — a big deal
  19. current — electric
  20. key — for a lock
  21. wax — in the ear
  22. mate — a partner
  23. bank — for money
  24. staff — a stick

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