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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: can · saw · wax · shower · key · pitcher · charge · swing

  1. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  2. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  4. She's very handy with a ________________.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  7. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  8. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  9. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  10. This piece is in a major ________________.
  11. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  12. The tickets are free of ________________.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  15. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  16. He works in a ________________ mill.
  17. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  18. He is an ace ________________.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. David sat on the ________________.
  21. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  22. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  23. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  24. He's taking a ________________ right now.

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

Answer key

  1. swing — music
  2. charge — in control
  3. shower — rain
  4. saw — the tool
  5. can — a tin
  6. key — for a lock
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. swing — in golf
  9. saw — past of 'see'
  10. key — in music
  11. wax — for sculpting
  12. charge — a price
  13. can — a tin
  14. charge — electricity
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. saw — the tool
  17. wax — in the ear
  18. pitcher — in baseball
  19. can — to be able to
  20. swing — to play on
  21. shower — a meteor shower
  22. wax — to grow
  23. key — the most important part
  24. shower — to wash

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