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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
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: nail · vault · wax · safe · spell · club · can · key

  1. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  2. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  3. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  8. This piece is in a major ________________.
  9. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  12. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  13. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  16. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  17. How do you ________________ your surname?
  18. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  19. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  20. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  21. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. The ________________ went through the wall.
  24. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.

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

Answer key

  1. key — for a lock
  2. wax — for sculpting
  3. club — for golf
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. club — for dancing
  8. key — in music
  9. key — the most important part
  10. can — a tin
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. spell — a short time
  13. spell — magic
  14. can — to be able to
  15. wax — to grow
  16. vault — an arched ceiling
  17. spell — letters
  18. wax — in the ear
  19. club — a group
  20. vault — a safe
  21. nail — on a finger
  22. can — a tin
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. vault — in gymnastics

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