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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 116 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: stand · wax · craft · key · shower · hide · face · can

  1. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  2. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  3. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  4. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  5. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  8. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  9. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  10. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  11. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  12. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  13. This piece is in a major ________________.
  14. I can't ________________ this cold.
  15. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  16. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  17. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  18. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  19. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  23. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  24. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. face — part of the head
  2. key — the most important part
  3. face — to point toward
  4. shower — rain
  5. face — to confront
  6. can — to be able to
  7. craft — a skill
  8. stand — on your feet
  9. wax — in the ear
  10. stand — for spectators
  11. craft — a handicraft
  12. wax — to grow
  13. key — in music
  14. stand — to bear
  15. craft — boats
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. hide — animal skin
  18. wax — for sculpting
  19. shower — to wash
  20. can — a tin
  21. can — a tin
  22. hide — to keep secret
  23. key — for a lock
  24. shower — a meteor shower

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