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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: mark · wax · coach · chip · net · leaves · spring · key

  1. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  2. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  5. Have you met the new head ________________?
  6. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  7. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  8. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  9. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  10. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  11. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  12. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  13. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  16. This piece is in a major ________________.
  17. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  18. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  19. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  20. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  21. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  22. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  23. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  24. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?

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

Answer key

  1. chip — in a computer
  2. leaves — to go away
  3. mark — a trace
  4. wax — in the ear
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. mark — to pay attention
  7. chip — for betting
  8. chip — to eat
  9. net — in sport
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. leaves — lets stay
  12. wax — for sculpting
  13. wax — to grow
  14. mark — a grade
  15. key — the most important part
  16. key — in music
  17. leaves — of a tree
  18. spring — of water
  19. spring — a coil
  20. spring — the season
  21. net — for catching
  22. net — after costs
  23. key — for a lock
  24. coach — pulled by horses

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