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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.

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: fan · wax · lie · game · bulb · key · bore · ball

  1. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  2. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  5. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  6. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  7. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  8. I've got to change the light ________________.
  9. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  10. That was a fun ________________.
  11. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  14. The light ________________ burned out.
  15. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  16. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  17. The King held a masked ________________.
  18. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  19. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  20. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  21. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  22. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  23. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  24. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.

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

Answer key

  1. game — a kind of play
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. key — in music
  4. fan — to cool the air
  5. game — wild animals
  6. wax — in the ear
  7. ball — a great time
  8. bulb — for light
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. game — a match
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. bore — to tire
  14. bulb — for light
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. wax — to grow
  17. ball — a dance
  18. bore — to drill
  19. key — the most important part
  20. bore — gave birth
  21. wax — for sculpting
  22. ball — a round shape
  23. key — for a lock
  24. lie — to recline

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