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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: mug · firm · mine · key · pop · wax · track · pit

  1. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  2. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  3. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  4. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  5. We're almost out of ________________.
  6. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  7. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  8. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  9. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  10. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  11. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  12. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  13. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  14. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  15. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  16. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  17. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  18. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  19. Where did you ________________ them?
  20. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  21. You don't need to ________________ round.
  22. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  23. This piece is in a major ________________.
  24. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.

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

Answer key

  1. track — a song
  2. pit — a hole
  3. mine — for digging
  4. track — a path
  5. pop — soda
  6. key — for a lock
  7. mine — an explosive
  8. pop — music
  9. pit — a fruit stone
  10. firm — decided
  11. mine — belonging to me
  12. wax — to grow
  13. pit — in a race
  14. mug — a face
  15. key — the most important part
  16. mug — a cup
  17. wax — in the ear
  18. firm — a company
  19. mug — to rob
  20. track — to keep track
  21. pop — to visit
  22. wax — for sculpting
  23. key — in music
  24. firm — steady

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