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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.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  2. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  3. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  4. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  5. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  6. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  9. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  10. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  11. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  12. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  13. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  14. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  15. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  16. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  17. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  18. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  19. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  20. He is an ace ________________.
  21. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  22. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  23. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  24. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. cue — a signal
  3. dip — to dunk
  4. wax — for sculpting
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. mouse — for a computer
  9. staff — a stick
  10. wax — in the ear
  11. leaves — lets stay
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. staff — employees
  14. staff — employees
  15. wax — to grow
  16. cue — for pool
  17. dip — to sink
  18. cue — a hint
  19. fan — to cool the air
  20. pitcher — in baseball
  21. dip — a sauce
  22. leaves — of a tree
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. fan — a supporter

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