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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 · rock · spring · vault · nail · charge · cue · track

  1. The ________________ went through the wall.
  2. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  3. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  4. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  5. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  6. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  7. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  8. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  9. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  10. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  11. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  12. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  13. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  14. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  15. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  16. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  17. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  18. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  19. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  20. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  23. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  24. The tickets are free of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. wax — to grow
  3. track — a song
  4. vault — an arched ceiling
  5. vault — a safe
  6. vault — in gymnastics
  7. track — a path
  8. spring — of water
  9. cue — a hint
  10. nail — on a finger
  11. charge — electricity
  12. rock — a stone
  13. wax — for sculpting
  14. rock — to move gently
  15. charge — in control
  16. cue — for pool
  17. spring — a coil
  18. spring — the season
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. track — to keep track
  21. rock — music
  22. cue — a signal
  23. wax — in the ear
  24. charge — a price

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