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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: sharp · jam · track · wax · bank · key · cue · can

  1. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  4. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  5. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  6. This piece is in a major ________________.
  7. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  8. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  11. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  12. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  13. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  14. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  15. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  16. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  17. It's one o'clock ________________.
  18. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  19. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  24. This knife is not ________________ enough.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — for pool
  2. can — a tin
  3. cue — a signal
  4. cue — a hint
  5. bank — for money
  6. key — in music
  7. key — the most important part
  8. jam — in traffic
  9. can — a tin
  10. track — a path
  11. wax — for sculpting
  12. sharp — clever
  13. bank — for money
  14. wax — in the ear
  15. wax — to grow
  16. track — to keep track
  17. sharp — exactly
  18. track — a song
  19. jam — to spread on bread
  20. key — for a lock
  21. bank — of a river
  22. can — to be able to
  23. jam — a tight spot
  24. sharp — with an edge

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