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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. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  3. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  4. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. You don't need to ________________ round.
  7. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  8. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  9. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  10. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  11. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  12. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  13. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  14. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  15. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  16. The ________________ went through the wall.
  17. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  18. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  19. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  20. We're almost out of ________________.
  21. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  24. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. prune — the fruit
  3. prune — to trim
  4. cue — a signal
  5. can — a tin
  6. pop — to visit
  7. nail — on a finger
  8. scale — size or range
  9. wax — to grow
  10. wax — for sculpting
  11. prune — to trim
  12. wax — in the ear
  13. mouse — for a computer
  14. scale — in music
  15. cue — a hint
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. cue — for pool
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. pop — soda
  21. scale — for weighing
  22. can — to be able to
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. pop — music

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