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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. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  2. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  3. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  4. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  5. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  6. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  7. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  8. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  9. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  10. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  11. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  12. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  13. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  14. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  15. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  18. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  19. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  22. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.

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

Answer key

  1. object — a thing
  2. wake — to stop sleeping
  3. wax — to grow
  4. jam — in traffic
  5. wax — for sculpting
  6. object — an aim
  7. trunk — of a tree
  8. wake — a trail
  9. jam — to spread on bread
  10. fine — high quality
  11. fine — all right
  12. wax — in the ear
  13. wake — before a funeral
  14. fine — a penalty
  15. cue — a hint
  16. can — a tin
  17. trunk — of an elephant
  18. trunk — of a car
  19. jam — a tight spot
  20. can — a tin
  21. object — to protest
  22. cue — for pool
  23. can — to be able to
  24. cue — a signal

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