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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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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: face · pass · wake · bay · key · deal · spring · wax

  1. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  2. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  3. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  4. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  5. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  6. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  7. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  8. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  9. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  10. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  11. My mare is ________________ in color.
  12. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  13. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  14. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  15. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  16. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  17. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  18. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  19. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  20. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  23. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  24. This piece is in a major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. spring — of water
  2. wake — before a funeral
  3. pass — to spend time
  4. face — to point toward
  5. deal — a big deal
  6. spring — the season
  7. key — the most important part
  8. bay — to keep at bay
  9. wax — for sculpting
  10. face — to confront
  11. bay — a horse colour
  12. pass — a permit
  13. wake — a trail
  14. deal — to handle
  15. face — part of the head
  16. wake — to stop sleeping
  17. bay — a part of the sea
  18. spring — a coil
  19. wax — to grow
  20. deal — an agreement
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. wax — in the ear
  23. key — for a lock
  24. key — in music

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