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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: wax · club · bay · cabinet · bulb · key · ball · season

  1. I've got to change the light ________________.
  2. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  3. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  4. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  5. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  6. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  7. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  8. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  9. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  12. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  13. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  14. What do you think of the new ________________?
  15. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  16. This piece is in a major ________________.
  17. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  18. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  19. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  20. My mare is ________________ in color.
  21. The King held a masked ________________.
  22. Did you ________________ the meat?
  23. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  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. bulb — for light
  2. ball — a round shape
  3. club — for golf
  4. wax — to grow
  5. key — for a lock
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. wax — in the ear
  8. cabinet — a cupboard
  9. club — a group
  10. bulb — for light
  11. bay — to keep at bay
  12. wax — for sculpting
  13. club — for dancing
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. bay — a part of the sea
  16. key — in music
  17. season — in sport
  18. bulb — of a plant
  19. ball — a great time
  20. bay — a horse colour
  21. ball — a dance
  22. season — to add flavour
  23. season — of the year
  24. key — the most important part

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