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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. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  2. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  3. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  4. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  5. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  6. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  7. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  8. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  9. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  10. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  11. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  12. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  13. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  14. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  15. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  16. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  17. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  18. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  19. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  20. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  21. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  22. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  23. He is an ace ________________.
  24. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — a tight spot
  2. pit — in a race
  3. cue — a signal
  4. wake — to stop sleeping
  5. wax — in the ear
  6. cue — for pool
  7. lean — to rest against
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. wake — before a funeral
  10. jam — to spread on bread
  11. pit — a hole
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. lean — thin
  14. calf — of the leg
  15. jam — in traffic
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. cue — a hint
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. wax — for sculpting
  20. wake — a trail
  21. wax — to grow
  22. pit — a fruit stone
  23. pitcher — in baseball
  24. lean — to bend

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