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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: plane · pitcher · wax · mug · saw · chair · key · scale

  1. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  2. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  3. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  4. She's very handy with a ________________.
  5. This piece is in a major ________________.
  6. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  7. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  8. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  9. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  10. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  11. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  12. Where did you ________________ them?
  13. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  14. He is an ace ________________.
  15. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  16. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  17. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  18. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  19. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  20. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  21. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  22. The ________________ took off on time.
  23. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  24. He works in a ________________ mill.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — in the ear
  2. chair — a professorship
  3. plane — a tool
  4. saw — the tool
  5. key — in music
  6. chair — a leader
  7. chair — to sit on
  8. scale — in music
  9. mug — a cup
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. scale — for weighing
  12. mug — to rob
  13. key — for a lock
  14. pitcher — in baseball
  15. wax — for sculpting
  16. wax — to grow
  17. key — the most important part
  18. plane — in geometry
  19. saw — past of 'see'
  20. scale — size or range
  21. mug — a face
  22. plane — an aircraft
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. saw — the tool

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