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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: band · mug · bear · deal · key · wake · wax · bore

  1. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  2. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  3. Where did you ________________ them?
  4. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  5. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  6. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  7. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  8. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  9. This piece is in a major ________________.
  10. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  11. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  12. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  13. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  14. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  15. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  18. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  19. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  20. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  21. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  22. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  23. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  24. Hard work is the ________________ to success.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. band — a ring
  3. mug — to rob
  4. band — a rubber band
  5. wake — a trail
  6. bore — gave birth
  7. bore — to drill
  8. bear — to put up with
  9. key — in music
  10. bear — the animal
  11. key — for a lock
  12. mug — a cup
  13. bore — to tire
  14. deal — an agreement
  15. wax — for sculpting
  16. mug — a face
  17. deal — a big deal
  18. wake — to stop sleeping
  19. band — a music group
  20. wake — before a funeral
  21. wax — in the ear
  22. deal — to handle
  23. wax — to grow
  24. key — the most important part

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