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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 120 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.

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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: key · arm · coach · object · fan · wax · wake · stock

  1. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  2. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  3. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  4. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  5. Have you met the new head ________________?
  6. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  7. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  8. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  9. This piece is in a major ________________.
  10. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  11. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  12. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  13. The ________________ market has crashed.
  14. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  15. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  16. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  17. My father caught me by the ________________.
  18. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  19. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  20. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  21. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  22. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  23. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  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. wake — a trail
  2. object — to protest
  3. wake — to stop sleeping
  4. object — an aim
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. wax — to grow
  8. wax — in the ear
  9. key — in music
  10. coach — pulled by horses
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. arm — a part of something
  13. stock — shares
  14. wake — before a funeral
  15. object — a thing
  16. stock — a soup base
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. wax — for sculpting
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. stock — goods
  22. fan — to cool the air
  23. key — the most important part
  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