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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. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  2. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  3. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  4. The ________________ took off on time.
  5. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  6. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  7. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  8. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  9. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  10. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  13. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  14. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  17. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  18. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  19. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  20. Have you settled on a ________________?
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. The ________________ went through the wall.
  23. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  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. wake — to stop sleeping
  2. plane — a tool
  3. wake — a trail
  4. plane — an aircraft
  5. plane — in geometry
  6. wax — for sculpting
  7. cue — for pool
  8. wake — before a funeral
  9. nail — on a finger
  10. wax — to grow
  11. can — to be able to
  12. date — on the calendar
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. cue — a hint
  15. can — a tin
  16. date — the fruit
  17. wax — in the ear
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. cue — a signal
  20. date — on the calendar
  21. can — a tin
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. mouse — for a computer
  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