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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. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  2. The ________________ took off on time.
  3. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  4. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  5. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  6. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  7. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  8. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  9. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  10. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  11. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  12. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  13. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  14. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  15. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  16. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  17. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  18. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  19. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  20. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  21. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  22. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  23. Where did you ________________ them?
  24. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a face
  2. plane — an aircraft
  3. wax — to grow
  4. plane — in geometry
  5. hand — part of the body
  6. bear — to put up with
  7. plane — a tool
  8. board — a committee
  9. board — to get on
  10. wax — in the ear
  11. bear — the animal
  12. wax — for sculpting
  13. wave — with your hand
  14. cue — a signal
  15. bear — the animal
  16. cue — a hint
  17. mug — a cup
  18. cue — for pool
  19. wave — of the sea
  20. hand — help
  21. hand — in cards
  22. board — a flat piece
  23. mug — to rob
  24. wave — a sudden rise

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