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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. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  3. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  4. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  5. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  6. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  7. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  8. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  9. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  10. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  11. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  12. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  13. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  14. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  15. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  16. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  17. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  18. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  19. This piece is in a major ________________.
  20. Where did you ________________ them?
  21. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  22. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  23. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  24. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — for pool
  2. content — happy
  3. root — of a word
  4. wax — for sculpting
  5. root — of a plant
  6. cue — a hint
  7. scale — in music
  8. root — the cause
  9. scale — for weighing
  10. key — the most important part
  11. board — a committee
  12. content — the amount
  13. scale — size or range
  14. board — a flat piece
  15. mug — a face
  16. wax — in the ear
  17. cue — a signal
  18. wax — to grow
  19. key — in music
  20. mug — to rob
  21. key — for a lock
  22. board — to get on
  23. mug — a cup
  24. content — videos and posts

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