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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: key · wax · cabinet · branch · face · deal · charge · drill

  1. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  2. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  3. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  4. What do you think of the new ________________?
  5. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  6. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  7. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  8. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  9. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  10. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  13. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  14. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  15. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  16. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  17. The tickets are free of ________________.
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. This piece is in a major ________________.
  22. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  23. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  24. We had a fire ________________ at school today.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — electricity
  2. face — to point toward
  3. drill — the tool
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. deal — a big deal
  6. wax — for sculpting
  7. branch — of a tree
  8. face — part of the head
  9. drill — army training
  10. cabinet — a cupboard
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. branch — of a bank
  13. wax — in the ear
  14. branch — a division
  15. deal — an agreement
  16. wax — to grow
  17. charge — a price
  18. key — the most important part
  19. charge — in control
  20. key — for a lock
  21. key — in music
  22. face — to confront
  23. deal — to handle
  24. drill — a practice

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