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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. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  2. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  3. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  4. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  5. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  6. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  7. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  8. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  9. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  10. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  11. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  12. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  13. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  14. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  15. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  16. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  17. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  18. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  19. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  20. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  21. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  22. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  23. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  24. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a signal
  2. foot — a measure
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. cue — for pool
  5. squash — to crush
  6. ruler — a monarch
  7. jam — in traffic
  8. jam — a tight spot
  9. lean — to rest against
  10. mouse — for a computer
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. lean — to bend
  13. cue — a hint
  14. wax — in the ear
  15. foot — the bottom
  16. wax — for sculpting
  17. wax — to grow
  18. lean — thin
  19. foot — part of the body
  20. squash — the sport
  21. squash — the vegetable
  22. jam — to spread on bread
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. mouse — the animal

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