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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.

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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: deal · rest · cue · wax · key · perch · rock · patient

  1. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  2. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  6. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  7. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  8. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  9. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  10. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  11. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  12. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  13. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  14. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  15. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  16. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  17. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  18. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  21. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  22. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  23. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  24. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. key — the most important part
  2. key — in music
  3. patient — a sick person
  4. rock — a stone
  5. deal — a big deal
  6. cue — a hint
  7. rest — what's left
  8. cue — a signal
  9. cue — for pool
  10. deal — an agreement
  11. rock — music
  12. wax — in the ear
  13. key — for a lock
  14. deal — to handle
  15. rest — what's left
  16. wax — for sculpting
  17. patient — calm and waiting
  18. wax — to grow
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. patient — a sick person
  21. perch — for a bird
  22. rest — a break
  23. perch — the fish
  24. perch — for a bird

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