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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. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  3. What do you think of the new ________________?
  4. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  5. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  6. David sat on the ________________.
  7. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  8. When will it ________________ you to start?
  9. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  10. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  11. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  12. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  13. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  14. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  15. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  16. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  17. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  18. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  19. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  20. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  21. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  22. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  23. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  24. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. swing — in golf
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. bore — to drill
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. swing — to play on
  7. wax — to grow
  8. suit — to fit
  9. suit — in cards
  10. bore — gave birth
  11. swing — music
  12. wax — in the ear
  13. pass — to succeed
  14. wax — for sculpting
  15. scale — size or range
  16. cabinet — a cupboard
  17. pass — a permit
  18. cue — for pool
  19. cue — a signal
  20. cue — a hint
  21. scale — in music
  22. bore — to tire
  23. pass — to spend time
  24. scale — for weighing

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