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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. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  2. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  3. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  4. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  5. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  6. When will it ________________ you to start?
  7. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  8. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  9. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  10. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  11. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  12. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  13. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  14. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  15. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  16. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  17. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  18. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  19. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  20. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  21. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  22. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  23. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  24. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. club — for dancing
  3. club — a group
  4. rule — government
  5. suit — clothes
  6. suit — to fit
  7. toast — bread
  8. staff — a stick
  9. club — for golf
  10. cue — a signal
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. wax — in the ear
  14. wax — for sculpting
  15. toast — the most admired
  16. rule — to rule out
  17. suit — in cards
  18. staff — employees
  19. calf — of the leg
  20. wax — to grow
  21. toast — a drink to someone
  22. cue — a hint
  23. cue — for pool
  24. rule — a law

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