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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
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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: present · wax · arm · key · suit · kick · can · last

  1. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  2. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  5. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  8. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  9. My father caught me by the ________________.
  10. When will it ________________ you to start?
  11. False peace will not ________________.
  12. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  13. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  14. This piece is in a major ________________.
  15. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  16. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  19. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  20. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  21. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  22. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  23. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  24. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?

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

Answer key

  1. kick — with a leg
  2. arm — a part of something
  3. can — a tin
  4. present — there
  5. kick — a thrill
  6. can — a tin
  7. present — the time now
  8. wax — in the ear
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. suit — to fit
  11. last — to go on
  12. wax — to grow
  13. suit — in cards
  14. key — in music
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. key — the most important part
  17. can — to be able to
  18. wax — for sculpting
  19. suit — clothes
  20. kick — in football
  21. key — for a lock
  22. last — finally
  23. last — final
  24. present — a gift

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