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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 120 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. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  2. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  5. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  6. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  9. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  10. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  11. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  12. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  13. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  14. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  15. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  16. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  17. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  18. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  19. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  22. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  23. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  24. We were using a ________________ as a seat.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — in the ear
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. current — of water
  4. deal — a big deal
  5. bowl — to roll
  6. track — to keep track
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. track — a path
  9. deal — to handle
  10. cue — a hint
  11. mouse — for a computer
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. wax — for sculpting
  14. cue — a signal
  15. current — electric
  16. bowl — a dish
  17. track — a song
  18. current — happening now
  19. wax — to grow
  20. rock — music
  21. deal — an agreement
  22. cue — for pool
  23. bowl — a football final
  24. rock — a stone

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