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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.

Make a worksheet

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: mug · ball · cabinet · bowl · key · wax · chair · bear

  1. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  3. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  4. What do you think of the new ________________?
  5. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  6. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  7. Where did you ________________ them?
  8. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  9. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  10. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  11. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  12. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  13. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  14. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  15. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  16. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  17. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  18. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  19. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  20. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  21. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. The King held a masked ________________.
  24. The moon will ________________ and wane.

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. mug — a cup
  3. wax — in the ear
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. key — the most important part
  6. wax — for sculpting
  7. mug — to rob
  8. bowl — to roll
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. chair — to sit on
  11. bear — to put up with
  12. chair — a professorship
  13. bear — the animal
  14. key — for a lock
  15. bowl — a football final
  16. ball — a great time
  17. ball — a round shape
  18. bowl — a dish
  19. bear — the animal
  20. cabinet — a cupboard
  21. chair — a leader
  22. mug — a face
  23. ball — a dance
  24. wax — to grow

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