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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.

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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 · nail · key · track · fan · chip · staff · ruler

  1. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  2. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  3. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  4. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  5. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  6. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  7. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  8. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  9. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  10. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  11. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  12. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  13. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  14. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  15. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  16. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  17. The ________________ went through the wall.
  18. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  19. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  20. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  21. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  22. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  23. This piece is in a major ________________.
  24. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. key — the most important part
  2. track — to keep track
  3. chip — for betting
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. track — a path
  6. fan — to cool the air
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. chip — to eat
  9. wax — for sculpting
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. chip — in a computer
  12. staff — a stick
  13. ruler — a monarch
  14. track — a song
  15. key — for a lock
  16. staff — employees
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. wax — in the ear
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. nail — on a finger
  21. wax — to grow
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. key — in music
  24. staff — employees

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