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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.

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: leaves · wax · scale · fan · key · tube · deal · rush

  1. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  2. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  3. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  4. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  5. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  6. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  7. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  8. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  9. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. This piece is in a major ________________.
  12. That must've been a ________________.
  13. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  14. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  15. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  16. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  17. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  18. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  19. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  20. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  21. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  22. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  23. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  24. I'll be taking the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — for weighing
  2. rush — to hurry
  3. key — for a lock
  4. fan — to cool the air
  5. scale — size or range
  6. scale — in music
  7. wax — in the ear
  8. key — the most important part
  9. leaves — lets stay
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. key — in music
  12. rush — a thrill
  13. tube — in a tire
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. wax — for sculpting
  16. deal — a big deal
  17. leaves — of a tree
  18. tube — a container
  19. rush — hurry
  20. deal — to handle
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. wax — to grow
  23. deal — an agreement
  24. tube — the underground

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