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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: mark · staff · wake · temple · drill · scale · key · wax

  1. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  2. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  3. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  4. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  5. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  6. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  7. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  8. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  9. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  10. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  11. This piece is in a major ________________.
  12. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  13. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  14. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  15. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  16. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  17. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  18. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  19. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  20. When was this ________________ built?
  21. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  22. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  23. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  24. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a trace
  2. key — the most important part
  3. wake — a trail
  4. scale — size or range
  5. staff — a stick
  6. drill — army training
  7. mark — to pay attention
  8. wax — for sculpting
  9. staff — employees
  10. wake — before a funeral
  11. key — in music
  12. drill — the tool
  13. wax — in the ear
  14. scale — in music
  15. staff — employees
  16. wake — to stop sleeping
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. wax — to grow
  19. mark — a grade
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. scale — for weighing
  22. drill — a practice
  23. key — for a lock
  24. temple — side of the head

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