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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: wind · staff · cell · sharp · object · wax · cabinet · nail

  1. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  2. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  3. The ________________ went through the wall.
  4. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  5. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  6. It's one o'clock ________________.
  7. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  8. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  9. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  10. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  13. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  14. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  15. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  16. He was locked up in a ________________.
  17. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  18. What do you think of the new ________________?
  19. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  20. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  21. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  22. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  23. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  24. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. staff — employees
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. object — a thing
  5. wax — to grow
  6. sharp — exactly
  7. staff — employees
  8. sharp — with an edge
  9. staff — a stick
  10. wax — for sculpting
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. cell — in biology
  13. cabinet — a cupboard
  14. wax — in the ear
  15. wind — moving air
  16. cell — in a prison
  17. object — an aim
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. sharp — clever
  20. nail — on a finger
  21. cell — a phone
  22. wind — to turn a key
  23. wind — moving air
  24. object — to protest

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