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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. The ball is in your ________________.
  3. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  4. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  5. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  6. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  7. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  8. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  9. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  10. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  13. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  14. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  15. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  16. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  17. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  18. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  19. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  20. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  21. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  22. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  23. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  24. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a signal
  2. court — for sport
  3. toast — the most admired
  4. toast — a drink to someone
  5. staff — a stick
  6. cue — a hint
  7. wax — in the ear
  8. wax — to grow
  9. face — part of the head
  10. face — to point toward
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. hide — animal skin
  13. leaves — lets stay
  14. toast — bread
  15. staff — employees
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. court — of law
  18. wax — for sculpting
  19. cue — for pool
  20. leaves — of a tree
  21. court — of a king
  22. hide — to keep secret
  23. face — to confront
  24. staff — employees

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