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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: bear · safe · scale · net · key · wax · toast · kick

  1. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  2. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  4. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  5. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  6. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  9. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  12. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  13. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  14. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  15. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  16. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  17. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  18. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  19. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  22. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  23. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  24. Hard work is the ________________ to success.

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

Answer key

  1. key — for a lock
  2. key — in music
  3. net — for catching
  4. bear — the animal
  5. toast — a drink to someone
  6. wax — for sculpting
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. wax — to grow
  9. toast — bread
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. scale — in music
  12. scale — for weighing
  13. bear — the animal
  14. net — in sport
  15. wax — in the ear
  16. scale — size or range
  17. kick — with a leg
  18. bear — to put up with
  19. toast — the most admired
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. kick — in football
  22. net — after costs
  23. kick — a thrill
  24. key — the most important part

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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