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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.

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: staff · coach · wax · key · pass · file · hide · deal

  1. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  2. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  3. Have you met the new head ________________?
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  6. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  7. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  8. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  9. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  10. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  11. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  12. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  13. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  14. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  15. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  16. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  17. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  18. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  19. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  22. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  23. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  24. We have nothing to ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a document
  2. wax — for sculpting
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. key — in music
  5. staff — a stick
  6. pass — to succeed
  7. deal — a big deal
  8. hide — animal skin
  9. key — the most important part
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. deal — an agreement
  12. file — a tool
  13. wax — to grow
  14. wax — in the ear
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. deal — to handle
  17. coach — pulled by horses
  18. staff — employees
  19. pass — to spend time
  20. key — for a lock
  21. file — a line of people
  22. pass — a permit
  23. staff — employees
  24. hide — to keep secret

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