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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: wax · key · firm · trunk · pit · track · plane · cabinet

  1. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  2. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  3. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  4. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  5. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  6. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  7. The ________________ took off on time.
  8. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  9. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  10. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  11. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  12. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  13. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  14. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  15. What do you think of the new ________________?
  16. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  17. This piece is in a major ________________.
  18. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  19. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  20. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  21. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  22. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  23. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  24. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.

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

Answer key

  1. firm — a company
  2. track — to keep track
  3. pit — a hole
  4. pit — in a race
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. trunk — of a tree
  7. plane — an aircraft
  8. wax — in the ear
  9. track — a path
  10. wax — to grow
  11. trunk — of an elephant
  12. key — the most important part
  13. cabinet — a cupboard
  14. plane — in geometry
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. firm — decided
  17. key — in music
  18. track — a song
  19. firm — steady
  20. pit — a fruit stone
  21. trunk — of a car
  22. key — for a lock
  23. plane — a tool
  24. wax — for sculpting

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