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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
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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: content · nail · key · wax · cue · field · lean · jam

  1. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  2. The ________________ went through the wall.
  3. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  4. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  5. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  6. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  7. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  8. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  9. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  10. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  11. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  12. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  13. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  14. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  15. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  16. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  17. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  18. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  19. This piece is in a major ________________.
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  22. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  23. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  24. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. field — a subject
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. cue — a signal
  4. content — the amount
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. wax — for sculpting
  7. jam — a tight spot
  8. jam — in traffic
  9. nail — on a finger
  10. key — for a lock
  11. cue — for pool
  12. wax — to grow
  13. lean — to bend
  14. lean — thin
  15. content — videos and posts
  16. lean — to rest against
  17. wax — in the ear
  18. cue — a hint
  19. key — in music
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. key — the most important part
  22. field — for sport
  23. content — happy
  24. field — farmland

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