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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 116 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 didn't even ________________ an eye.
  2. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  3. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  4. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  5. The ________________ took off on time.
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  8. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  9. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  10. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  11. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  12. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  15. That must've been a ________________.
  16. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  17. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  18. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  19. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  23. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  24. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. bat — in an idiom
  2. rush — hurry
  3. cue — a signal
  4. lie — to recline
  5. plane — an aircraft
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. cue — a hint
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. bat — for baseball
  10. rock — music
  11. wax — to grow
  12. rock — a stone
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. plane — a tool
  15. rush — a thrill
  16. rush — to hurry
  17. bat — the animal
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. wax — for sculpting
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. plane — in geometry
  23. cue — for pool
  24. wax — in the ear

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