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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 120 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: nail · rock · suit · rush · key · prune · wax · wave

  1. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  2. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  3. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  8. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  9. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  10. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  11. That must've been a ________________.
  12. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. When will it ________________ you to start?
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  17. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  18. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  19. The ________________ went through the wall.
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  23. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  24. This piece is in a major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — of the sea
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. wave — with your hand
  4. rock — a stone
  5. prune — to trim
  6. key — the most important part
  7. suit — in cards
  8. wax — to grow
  9. nail — on a finger
  10. wave — a sudden rise
  11. rush — a thrill
  12. wax — for sculpting
  13. rush — hurry
  14. suit — to fit
  15. rock — music
  16. key — for a lock
  17. wax — in the ear
  18. prune — to trim
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. prune — the fruit
  23. suit — clothes
  24. key — in music

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