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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. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  2. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  3. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  4. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  5. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  6. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  7. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  8. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  9. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  10. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  11. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  12. This piece is in a major ________________.
  13. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  14. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  15. The King held a masked ________________.
  16. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  17. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  18. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  19. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. David sat on the ________________.
  22. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  23. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  24. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — for pool
  2. pass — to succeed
  3. swing — in golf
  4. wax — for sculpting
  5. branch — of a bank
  6. swing — music
  7. snap — to click
  8. key — the most important part
  9. cue — a hint
  10. branch — of a tree
  11. cue — a signal
  12. key — in music
  13. pass — a permit
  14. pass — to spend time
  15. ball — a dance
  16. ball — a round shape
  17. wax — in the ear
  18. ball — a great time
  19. branch — a division
  20. key — for a lock
  21. swing — to play on
  22. snap — to speak sharply
  23. wax — to grow
  24. snap — to snap out of it

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