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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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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: mug · fall · foot · bay · wax · key · chip · toast

  1. My mare is ________________ in color.
  2. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  3. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  4. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  5. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  6. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  7. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  8. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  9. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  10. Where did you ________________ them?
  11. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  12. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  13. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  14. This piece is in a major ________________.
  15. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  16. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  17. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  18. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  19. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  20. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  21. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  22. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — a horse colour
  2. foot — a measure
  3. chip — for betting
  4. bay — to keep at bay
  5. wax — for sculpting
  6. mug — a cup
  7. bay — a part of the sea
  8. chip — in a computer
  9. wax — to grow
  10. mug — to rob
  11. toast — a drink to someone
  12. chip — to eat
  13. toast — the most admired
  14. key — in music
  15. key — for a lock
  16. foot — part of the body
  17. foot — the bottom
  18. toast — bread
  19. fall — to drop
  20. key — the most important part
  21. fall — the season
  22. wax — in the ear
  23. mug — a face
  24. fall — to drop

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