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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.

Make a worksheet

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: cabinet · wax · capital · coach · wound · toast · charge · key

  1. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  3. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  4. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  5. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  6. What do you think of the new ________________?
  7. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  8. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  9. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  10. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  11. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  12. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  13. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  14. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  15. The tickets are free of ________________.
  16. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  17. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  18. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  19. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  22. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  23. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  24. Have you met the new head ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. capital — money
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. toast — the most admired
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. capital — a city
  8. wax — for sculpting
  9. wound — an injury
  10. key — the most important part
  11. wax — in the ear
  12. coach — pulled by horses
  13. wax — to grow
  14. toast — a drink to someone
  15. charge — a price
  16. charge — in control
  17. cabinet — a cupboard
  18. wound — past of 'wind'
  19. wound — an injury
  20. key — for a lock
  21. toast — bread
  22. charge — electricity
  23. capital — a big letter
  24. coach — a trainer

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