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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. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  3. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  4. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  5. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  6. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  7. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  8. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  9. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  10. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  11. The tickets are free of ________________.
  12. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  13. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  14. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  15. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  16. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  17. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  18. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  19. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  20. It's one o'clock ________________.
  21. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  22. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  23. Did you ________________ the meat?
  24. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. cue — a signal
  3. sharp — clever
  4. season — in sport
  5. sharp — with an edge
  6. march — music
  7. cue — a hint
  8. march — the month
  9. leaves — lets stay
  10. wax — to grow
  11. charge — a price
  12. cue — for pool
  13. charge — electricity
  14. march — the month
  15. leaves — to go away
  16. season — of the year
  17. wax — in the ear
  18. wave — with your hand
  19. leaves — of a tree
  20. sharp — exactly
  21. wave — of the sea
  22. wave — a sudden rise
  23. season — to add flavour
  24. wax — for sculpting

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