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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: object · suit · spring · wax · bore · pitcher · key · bass

  1. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  3. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  4. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  5. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  6. He is an ace ________________.
  7. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  8. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  9. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  10. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  11. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  12. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  13. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  14. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  15. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  16. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  17. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  18. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  19. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  20. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  21. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  22. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  23. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  24. When will it ________________ you to start?

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. key — the most important part
  3. object — a thing
  4. suit — clothes
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. pitcher — in baseball
  7. object — to protest
  8. spring — the season
  9. suit — in cards
  10. key — for a lock
  11. spring — a coil
  12. wax — for sculpting
  13. bore — to tire
  14. object — an aim
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. spring — of water
  17. bore — gave birth
  18. wax — in the ear
  19. bass — low music
  20. bass — the instrument
  21. wax — to grow
  22. bass — the fish
  23. bore — to drill
  24. suit — to fit

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