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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: spell · racket · charge · key · lie · fan · sharp · wax

  1. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  2. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  3. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  4. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  5. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  6. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  7. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  8. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  9. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  10. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  11. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  12. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  13. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  14. This piece is in a major ________________.
  15. How do you ________________ your surname?
  16. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  17. The tickets are free of ________________.
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. It's one o'clock ________________.
  20. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  21. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  22. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  23. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  24. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. wax — for sculpting
  2. racket — a loud noise
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. charge — in control
  5. spell — a short time
  6. spell — magic
  7. charge — electricity
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. fan — to cool the air
  11. racket — for tennis
  12. wax — to grow
  13. lie — to recline
  14. key — in music
  15. spell — letters
  16. racket — for tennis
  17. charge — a price
  18. key — the most important part
  19. sharp — exactly
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. key — for a lock
  22. sharp — with an edge
  23. sharp — clever
  24. wax — in the ear

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